RALEIGH, N.C., Sept. 8 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Site Selection magazine
has named Progress Energy (NYSE: PGN) one of North America's Top Utilities for
Economic Development for the sixth time in the last seven years.
(Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20020923/CHM008LOGO-c )
The magazine's September 2008 issue selected Progress Energy as one of 10
winning utilities based on its success in helping to generate 7,405 new jobs
and more than $766 million in capital investment in the Carolinas and Florida
service areas in 2007.
'In challenging economic times, we are extremely pleased to be recognized
by Site Selection magazine for helping to bring thousands of quality jobs and
investment to the communities in the service areas,' said Gene Upchurch, vice
president of State Public Affairs and Economic Development for Progress
Energy. 'This success was made possible by our team's close collaboration with
economic development partners at the state, regional and local levels as well
as the ongoing support of our company's energy delivery professionals.'
The Top Utilities list is released annually by the editors of Site
Selection magazine, who survey utility companies across North America.
Selection criteria include the number and type of new and expanded facilities
that have located in a utility's service area, the most new jobs and capital
investment created (in total and per capita), and the new programs and
services developed for attracting economic activity.
'Utilities play a key role as participants in the economic development
efforts of cities, regions and all areas working to improve their local
business climate,' said Mark Arend, editor in chief of Site Selection. 'This
year's Top Utilities were particularly successful in this endeavor in 2007.'
Site Selection is a bimonthly magazine published by Atlanta-based Conway
Data Inc. The magazine delivers business expansion planning information to
more than 44,000 global executives of fast-growing firms.
Progress Energy, headquartered in Raleigh, N.C., is a Fortune 250 energy
company with more than 21,000 megawatts of generation capacity and $9 billion
in annual revenues. The company is observing its 100th anniversary in 2008.
Progress Energy includes two major utilities that serve 3.1 million customers
in the Carolinas and Florida. The company is the 2006 recipient of the Edison
Electric Institute's Edison Award, the industry's highest honor, in
recognition of its operational excellence. The company also is the first
utility to receive the prestigious J.D. Power and Associates Founder's Award
for customer service. Progress Energy serves two growing areas of the country,
and the company is pursuing a balanced strategy for a secure energy future.
That balance includes aggressive energy efficiency programs, investments in
renewable energy technologies and a state-of-the-art electricity system. For
more information about Progress Energy, visit the company's Web site at
www.progress-energy.com .
SOURCE Progress Energy
