Press Release

Napa, Calif. - January 25, 2004 - Premier Power completes solar electric system for Shafer Vineyards, making Shafer Vineyards the first winery in the wine country of Napa and Sonoma counties to make the move to 100 percent solar power.

The 129 kW solar electric system which features 784 of GE Energy's solar power modules will supply Shafer Vineyards with 100 percent of its power needs, including providing power to the winery's offices and processing facilities, as well as its large, state-of-the-art barrel refrigeration rooms. The winery expects the project to pay for itself in energy cost savings in seven to eight years. The winery will start putting corks in its first solar-powered wines when it starts the bottling line in January 2005.

Each of the GE Energy GEPV165 solar power modules generates a peak power of 165 watts. Premier Power, GE's Northern California dealer, seamlessly integrated its system into Shafer Vineyards' landscaping and existing structures. The system consists of 3 sub systems: two 50 kW east/west roof top systems, and a 29 kW combined south roof top, and a ground-mounted system. The system will produce approximately 12,900 kW per month or approximately 160,000 kW per year. The entire system could power roughly 20 to 30 average U.S. homes. The winery received a $490,000 rebate from Pacific Gas & Electric (PG&E) through the utility's Self-Generation Incentive Program.

"Premier Power selected GE Energy's solar electric systems for the project because of the in depth support in design and layout GE provides," said Dean Marks, President of Premier Power. "Their support included collaboration on electrical design elements including equipment selection and site layout," Marks concluded.

"For more than 20 years, Shafer Vineyards has worked diligently to develop a sustainable business. Our converting to a total use of solar power is part of that plan," said Doug Shafer, President of Shafer Vineyards. "We are very pleased with the way Premier and GE worked together to build the best possible system for our winery," Shafer concluded.

"We are delighted that the first fully solar winery in Napa and Sonoma counties has made the complete conversion to solar power using GE Energy's products," said Ali Iz, General Manager Of GE Energy's Solar Technologies Division.

"The Shafer Vineyards project is our most recent addition to our list of wineries which includes Sierra Vista Winery, Domaine de la Terre Rouge and Madroña Vineyards," said Dean Marks, President of Premier Power. "We have a long history of working with GE Energy and we look forward to continuing our relationship," Marks concluded.