First Solar, Indiana Michigan Power Break Ground on Twin Branch Solar Facility

First Solar, Inc. (NASDAQ: FSLR) joined Indiana Michigan Power (I&M) yesterday at a groundbreaking ceremony for the Twin Branch Solar Facility in Mishawaka, Indiana. The 2.6 megawatt (MW) project is the first of three First Solar is building for I&M, an operating unit of regional power utility American Electric Power (NYSE: AEP).

“I&M is pleased to partner with First Solar in bringing emission-free, large-scale solar generation to Michiana,” said Paul Chodak III, President and Chief Operating Officer of Indiana Michigan Power. “I&M and First Solar will be building cost-effective, efficient facilities that will serve customers well by further diversifying I&M’s generation with zero carbon footprint.”

“It is exciting to be working directly with one of the largest vertically integrated utilities in the U.S.,” said Eran Mahrer, First Solar’s Senior Director of Business Development - Utilities. “AEP is aggressively developing a fleet of renewable energy generation facilities in the region, and their commitment to solar power as a cornerstone of that renewable portfolio is at the forefront of a national trend.”

Mahrer noted that Twin Branch’s site location – approximately 19 acres in the heart of an industrial park – shows how utility-scale solar can be integrated into an urban commercial setting.

In addition to Twin Branch, First Solar will be building the 5MW Olive Solar Facility in New Carlisle, Indiana and the 4.6MW Watervliet Solar Facility in Watervliet, Indiana for I&M, all using First Solar’s advanced technology thin film photovoltaic modules. The three projects are expected to be in full commercial operation by the end of 2016, and will be connected to I&M’s existing distribution system.

First Solar will be working with trusted strategic partner GEM Energy of Walbridge, Ohio, as the engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) contractor for Twin Branch. When commissioned, the power plant will generate enough energy annually to power the equivalent of 350 homes. I&M will own and operate the power plant, supported by system monitoring software provided by First Solar subsidiary skytron® energy GmbH.

About First Solar, Inc.

First Solar is a leading global provider of comprehensive photovoltaic (PV) solar systems which use its advanced module and system technology. The company’s integrated power plant solutions deliver an economically attractive alternative to fossil-fuel electricity generation today. From raw material sourcing through end-of-life module recycling, First Solar’s renewable energy systems protect and enhance the environment.

About Indiana Michigan Power and American Electric Power

Indiana Michigan Power (I&M) is headquartered in Fort Wayne, and its 2,450 employees serve more than 589,000 customers. It operates 2,600 MW of coal-fired generation in Indiana, 2,160 MW of nuclear generation in Michigan and 22 MW of hydro generation in both states. The company also provides its customers 450 MW of purchased wind generation and, by the end of 2016, approximately 15 MW of large-scale solar generation.

American Electric Power (AEP) is one of the largest electric utilities in the United States, delivering electricity to more than 5.3 million customers in 11 states. AEP ranks among the nation’s largest generators of electricity, owning nearly 32,000 megawatts of generating capacity in the U.S. AEP also owns the nation’s largest electricity transmission system, a 40,000-mile network that includes more 765-kilovolt extra-high voltage transmission lines than all other U.S. transmission systems combined. AEP’s transmission system directly or indirectly serves about 10 percent of the electricity demand in the Eastern Interconnection, the interconnected transmission system that covers 38 eastern and central U.S. states and eastern Canada, and approximately 11 percent of the electricity demand in ERCOT, the transmission system that covers much of Texas. AEP’s utility units operate as AEP Ohio, AEP Texas, Appalachian Power (in Virginia and West Virginia), AEP Appalachian Power (in Tennessee), Indiana Michigan Power, Kentucky Power, Public Service Company of Oklahoma, and Southwestern Electric Power Company (in Arkansas, Louisiana and east Texas). AEP’s headquarters are in Columbus, Ohio.

About GEM Energy

GEM Energy offers a wide array of services to help customers increase their energy efficiency, sustainability and energy savings. GEM Energy’s comprehensive energy services and technologies include solar development, integration of power generation, advanced heating and cooling systems, procurement and FlexSet energy monitoring/building control systems for commercial, industrial, institutional and mission-critical facilities. GEM Energy is part of the Rudolph Libbe Group, which also includes Rudolph Libbe Inc., GEM Inc., Lehman Daman and Rudolph Libbe Properties. A full-service team of companies, the Rudolph Libbe Group provides customized building solutions together and independently. The Rudolph Libbe Group is a single source of comprehensive construction services ranging from site selection and financing, through all aspects of construction to ongoing maintenance.

For First Solar Investors

This release contains forward-looking statements which are made pursuant to safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements include statements, among other things, concerning: our business strategy, including anticipated trends and developments in and management plans for our business and the markets in which we operate; future financial results, operating results, revenues, gross margin, operating expenses, products, projected costs, warranties, solar module efficiency and balance of systems (BoS) cost reduction roadmaps, restructuring, product reliability, investments in unconsolidated affiliates, and capital expenditures; our ability to continue to reduce the cost per watt of our solar modules; our ability to reduce the costs to construct photovoltaic (PV) solar power systems; research and development programs and our ability to improve the conversion efficiency of our solar modules; sales and marketing initiatives; and competition. These forward-looking statements are often characterized by the use of words such as "estimate," "expect," "anticipate," "project," "plan," "intend," "believe," "forecast," "foresee," "likely," "may," "should," "goal," "target," "might," "will," "could," "predict," "continue" and the negative or plural of these words and other comparable terminology. Forward-looking statements are only predictions based on our current expectations and our projections about future events. You should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements. We undertake no obligation to update any of these forward-looking statements for any reason. These forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors that may cause our actual results, levels of activity, performance, or achievements to differ materially from those expressed or implied by these statements. These factors include, but are not limited to, the matters discussed in Item 1A: "Risk Factors," of our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, Current Reports on Form 8-K and other reports filed with the SEC.

Contacts:

First Solar Media
Steve Krum
+1 602-427-3359
steve.krum@firstsolar.com
or
First Solar Investors
Stephen Haymore
+1 602-414-9315
stephen.haymore@firstsolar.com

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