SCHENECTADY, N.Y.—February 1, 2010—Federal, state and local officials joined GE (NYSE:GE) representatives today to celebrate the official dedication of GE’s Renewable Energy Global Headquarters. The state-of-the-art, eco-friendly facility is a $45 million renovation of the 100-year-old Building 53 on GE’s Schenectady campus.
The establishment of the Renewable Energy Global Headquarters in Schenectady has spurred the creation of more than 650 new jobs locally, 150 more than originally anticipated and a year ahead of schedule.
“This facility is an investment in the future of GE in Schenectady,” said Steve Bolze, president and CEO, GE Power & Water. “It will help ensure that New York continues to be a global leader in sustainable technology, as GE’s renewable energy business continues to support the growth of a green economy.”
Bolze thanked government and community officials for their support in the development of the new facility, which received $5 million in funding from New York State, $2.8 million in local incentives and nearly $750,000 in grants from the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA).
“The rebirth of Building 53 as our Renewable Energy Global Headquarters is an important symbol of the rapid growth and success of our renewable energy business, particularly in the wind sector,” said Victor Abate, vice president-renewable energy for GE Power & Water. “When we entered the wind energy industry in 2002, it was a $200 million business for us. Today, it has grown into a vibrant business of more than $6 billion.”
The event also marked the installation of GE’s 13,500™ wind turbine globally, further demonstrating the continued growth of GE’s renewable energy business. GE is the largest supplier of wind turbines in North America, and the company’s 1.5-megawatt wind turbine is the most used wind turbine in the world. GE’s global installed fleet generates enough electricity to power nearly 6 million U.S. homes.
The renovated Building 53 meets federal Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) green building standards and will be 20% more energy efficient than required by New York State building standards. Features include low-water faucets and improved insulation, energy efficient hot water boilers and air conditioning system, energy efficient, larger windows and bike racks and preferred parking for hybrid vehicles.
“We wanted to make sure that Building 53 captures the spirit of our renewable energy business, which is committed to developing and delivering cleaner and more efficient energy solutions for our customers worldwide,” noted Abate.
A 48-kilowatt GE solar system installed nearby helps to power the building, and a four-story atrium houses a scale model wind turbine and interactive displays featuring GE’s renewable energy technologies. A state-of-the-art Remote Operations Center is one of two global facilities that provides continuous monitoring and diagnostic services for GE’s installed base of wind turbines and solar power electronics.
About GE
GE is a diversified global infrastructure, finance and media company that’s built to meet essential world needs. From energy, water, transportation and health to access to money and information, GE serves customers in more than 100 countries and employs more than 300,000 people worldwide.
GE serves the energy sector by developing and deploying technology that helps make efficient use of natural resources. With 60,000 global employees and 2008 revenues of $38.6 billion, GE Energy www.ge.com/energy is one of the world’s leading suppliers of power generation and energy delivery technologies. The businesses that comprise GE Energy – GE Power & Water, GE Energy Services and GE Oil & Gas – work together to provide integrated product and service solutions in all areas of the energy industry including coal, oil, natural gas and nuclear energy; renewable resources such as water, wind, solar and biogas; and other alternative fuels.
For more information, visit the company’s Web site at www.ge.com GE is imagination at work.
For more information, contact:
Chris Horne
GE
518 225 2779
christine.horne@ge.com