California power to be supplemented by new biodiesel generating plant

ONTARIO, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--July 21, 2001--Southern States PowerCompany, Inc. announced Saturday that the three 2-megawatt generators thatare capable of delivering a total of 6 megawatts of biofueled standbybackup electrical power to the University of California Riverside are inplace, and have successfully completed start-up and testing procedures.The testing of these units has proven their capability to provide powerfor the University of California, Riverside, and their ability to feedenergy to the Riverside power grid. Control of the project has beentransferred to Riverside Public Utilities, who will operate the site.The generators were installed by the firm of Henkels and McCoy, anationwide electrical contractor, in conjunction with Southern StatesPower Company. Start-up and testing procedures were completed byCummins/Onan factory authorized personnel. Cummins technicians were flownto the site to program the computerized utility paralleling system, one ofonly six in the world that utilize this advanced technology.``Southern States Power Company is please to help usher a new era in powergeneration integrating the use of alternative, renewable, clean-burningfuels,'' commented Harrison A. McCoy III, executive vice president ofSSPC. ``Approximately 5,000 gallons of the company's OXyG 100% Biodieselis on hand to fuel this project, and Southern States Power Company's owntanker truck is on 24-hour standby for delivery of additional fuel asneeded.''SSPC recently announced that through its distributor, General Petroleum,it is regularly providing fuel to the city of Claremont, Calif., inaddition to previously announced clients in Arizona.The CompanyThe primary focus of Southern States Power Company, Inc. is to develop,produce and distribute alternative fuels, particularly its OXyG Biodiesel,for use by consumers and commercial businesses. While the demand foralternative fuels is great, there are few producers ready to meet thegrowing need.There are nearly 27 billion gallons of diesel consumed annually in theUnited States alone, and an additional volume is consumed internationally.It is the goal of the United States Department of Energy that 30% ofpetroleum based motor fuel be replaced by alternative fuels by the year2010. Federal and state fleets are mandated to use up to 75% domesticallyproduced alternative fuels. President George W. Bush's recently releasedNational Energy Policy emphasized the growing role that biodiesel willplay in the nation's energy future.Southern States Power is poised to capture a significant portion of therapidly expanding biodiesel market through an aggressive marketing plan aswell as contacts in government, business and industry. An alliance withsoybean farmers in Iowa will supply the company with as much as 270million gallons of feedstock for use in production of its OXyG Biodiesel.Tightening clean air standards and growing fossil fuel costs are forcingprivate commercial fleets to look toward alternative fuel products. Majorbiodiesel initiatives have been passed in Arizona, Ohio, New Jersey,Nevada, Delaware and Iowa. More information can be found at the company'swebsite: www.sspowerco.com.Safe HarborThis news release may contain forward-looking statements, which are madepursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private SecuritiesLitigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements involve anumber of risks and uncertainties, including the timely development andmarket acceptance of products and technologies and other factors describedin the company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Theactual results may differ materially from any forward-looking statementsdue to such risk and uncertainties. The company undertakes no obligationto revise or update any forward-looking statements in order to reflectevents or circumstances that may arise after the date of this release.