Local Briefs

A 20-year-old San Mateo man died Sunday night after crashing his motorcycle on El Camino Real.

Anthony Brown, a lifelong San Mateo resident, was taken to Stanford University Medical Center unconscious but breathing after crashing just before 7 p.m. Aug. 12. Brown was pronounced dead shortly later and is believed to have struck a pole or other object with his body during the crash.

Authorities are still investigating the cause of the solo crash.

PG&E announces plans for new solar generation plants

Pacific Gas & Electric announced plans to employ hybrid solar-gas technology to add significantly to its supplies of solar power by 2010.

An agreement was reached with Luz II, LLC, on the purchase of at least 500 megawatts of solar energy produced through Luz’s proprietary technology, said to be both more efficient in converting sunlight to electricity and less expensive to build and operate, according to PG&E.

"This new project has the potential to be a tremendous additional resource,’’ PG&E Vice President of Energy Procurement Fong Wan said.

Already about 30 percent of PG&E’s power comes from hydroelectric and renewable sources such as wind, biomass and geothermal energy. More than 50 percent of the company’s power comes from zero-carbon emission sources, Wan said.

The plan, pending regulatory approval, would begin delivering solar power in 2010, according to PG&E, though the site for the power plants has not yet been determined.

PG&E reported that the company already has more than 12,000 customers providing solar power generating about 88 megawatts of electricity, more than 60 percent of distributed solar energy generated in all of California.

PG&E also provides cash rebates to customers setting up large distributed solar electric systems through its Self-Generation Incentive Program.

More information can be found at the Web site http://www.pge.com.<