New PV Installation Demonstrates Latest Phase in County’s Commitment to

Enhance Energy Efficiency and Conservation in its Facilities

March 1, 2004 (ROCKLIN, CA) – RWE SCHOTT Solar, Inc. (RSS), a leading

manufacturer and distributor of high-quality solar modules and systems,

announced today, along with its installation contractor, Prevalent Power,

Inc., a Novato California-based clean energy developer and systems

integrator, that their customer, the County of Marin, California, is now

powering one of its maintenance buildings entirely by the sun, effectively

reducing the county’s overall energy consumption, reducing the production of

greenhouse gases and eliminating the electricity cost for the building each

month.

Through its offices and website, Marin County offers up a host of energy

savings tips, information and guidelines for residents of Marin County and

anyone interested in energy efficiency and conservation programs. The

county takes an active role in the community promoting clean power and green

building information. This installation of an 89kW RSS SunRoof™

non-penetrating flat roof photovoltaic system is the latest in the county’s

lead-by-example commitment to environmental-friendly projects and

energy-savings programs.

“The PV system installed at the county’s facility is representative of the

Marin County Board of Supervisor’s environmental and financial foresight.

By spending some money now, the county will, over the long-term, reap

environmental and financial benefits well beyond the point from when the

system pays for itself,” said Marc Roper, director of sales for RWE SCHOTT

Solar. “The County of Marin is to be commended. In these times of tough

politics and tightening budgets, its Board has continually demonstrated

leadership and commitment to saving energy and reducing pollution.”

The SunRoof PV system literally and figuratively caps Marin County’s energy

savings program. Dedicated to reducing emissions, power usage and energy

costs through a series of energy conservation activities, the county first

did an analysis of its power consumption then reduced its energy use through

a series of projects to improve its building’s insulation, lighting and

ventilation systems. Next, it wanted to generate its own power. After

completing a competitive selection process, the county brought in RSS and

Prevalent Power, which together, engineered and designed a PV system that

would zero-out one of the county building’s electricity bills.

“Through a series of financial incentive programs and low cost loans for

these types of systems, we were able to create a financial package with loan

payments equaling slightly less that our monthly savings on electrical

bills,” said Rick Carlsen, assistant director of Public Works for the County

of Marin. “So over the course of a year, the system will actually average

out on a monthly basis to produce more than it costs. Then, in a few years

after the system pays itself off, the money that was earmarked for loan

payments can be applied to other public uses.”

The County of Marin continues to demonstrate leadership in environmental

programs and energy savings policies. In recognition of its achievements,

the County will host a dedication ceremony for the new PV system on March 3,

2004 with activities scheduled from 10:30 a.m. until 12:30 p.m. at its

complex of county buildings off Highway 101 in San Rafael (3501 Civic Center

Drive). For more information on the County’s energy programs, please go to

its Building Energy Efficient Structures Today web pages at

www.marinsolar.org. For more information on the dedication event, please

contact Marin County at 415-499-7309.

A contract for the project was announced in August 2003 (RWE SCHOTT Solar

and Prevalent Power Contract to Advance Marin County California’s Energy

Conservation Program) For its contribution to the county’s program, RSS

completed an electrical usage evaluation and determined that an 89kW SunRoof

FS system, capable of powering 30-60 average homes, would bring the General

Services Garage’s electricity bill to nearly zero. The system installs

directly on the garage’s flat roof without any penetration. The modules are

linked for maximum strength and stability, while also simplifying

installation, inspection and maintenance. The system is expected to pay for

itself in about 12 years.

ABOUT RWE SCHOTT Solar Inc.

RWE SCHOTT Solar Inc. is North America’s leading manufacturer and

distributor of solar power components and systems, serving customers

throughout the Americas from sales offices in California, Massachusetts and

the State of Washington. The company’s U.S. headquarters and manufacturing

facility in Billerica, Massachusetts, produces the largest solar power

module available worldwide, the ASE 300(tm). A pioneer in the design and

development of complete solar power solutions, RWE SCHOTT Solar Inc. serves

a highly diverse market including grid-connected residential and commercial

systems, and grid-independent industrial, governmental and utility

applications. RWE SCHOTT Solar Inc. is a joint venture of the RWE Group, a

global international multi-utility concern with core businesses in

electricity, gas, water, waste management and recycling; and the SCHOTT

Group, a leading international specialty glass manufacturer. The RWE and

SCHOTT companies had combined sales of over $55 billion in 2002, and employ

nearly 150,000 people worldwide.

For more information, please visit: RWE Schott Solar Inc. –

www.rweschottsolar.com;

RWE Group – www.rwe.com/en; Schott Group – www.schott.com.

- end -

For more information contact:

Jennifer Pecha Bill Jeppesen

RWE Schott Solar, Inc. Effective PR, Inc

T: 1.916.625.9033 T: 1.916.941.7553

F: 1.916.625.9032 F: 1.916.941.7589

jennifer.pecha@rweschottsolar.us bill@effectivepr.com