To: Jim Bishop who wrote (85568 ) 5/31/2001 12:00:53 PM From: Buckey Read Replies (1) | Respond to of 150070 SSPCgetting hammered - Maybe this will help - NEWS Southern States Power Company Concludes Successful Fluid Test On Processing System At Coachella Valley Biodiesel Production Facility ONTARIO, Calif., May 31, 2001 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- Southern States Power Company Inc. (OTCBB:SSPC) Thursday announced that the company has concluded successful leak tests at its Coachella Valley Biodiesel Production Facility in Coachella, Calif. Interest in the company's OXyG Biodiesel Fuel continues to grow in the wake of tightening energy supplies and President George W. Bush's visit to California. In conjunction with the company's expansion program, Southern States Power is also participating in comprehensive studies at two major southwestern universities on biodiesel's full potential as an effective, alternative, renewable fuel. In anticipation of the opening of the Coachella facility, Southern States Power is performing a final round of tests and system checks before production begins on June 11th. The plant will help to fill the increasing number of orders that the company is receiving for its trademarked biodiesel fuel. A burgeoning interest in biodiesel for use in the production of stationary power prompted Southern States Power to form an energy division earlier this week. Plans to expand production capacity at the Coachella plant, in addition to the construction of more facilities across the United States, are designed to keep pace with the increasing demand for biodiesel. Harrison A. McCoy III, executive vice president and COO of Southern States Power Company, stated, "The successful test at the Coachella Valley facility is yet another positive step in the process of bringing this plant to production readiness. As interest in biodiesel as both a mobile and stationary fuel grows, Southern States Power is preparing to increase production capacity as well as cultivating the management expertise to oversee operations. The company has also revamped its Web site and hopes that our investors are able access more comprehensive information on ongoing operations of SSCP as well as the company's long-term strategic vision." To more thoroughly explore the benefits of biodiesel in both stationary and mobile projects, Southern States Power is participating in studies with two major research universities in California and Arizona. The University of California, Riverside's College of Engineering will evaluate the performance of the company's biodiesel as a fuel in the generation of backup power for the university this summer. Students at Arizona State University are teaming with Southern States Power to chronicle the performance of biodiesel in the buses of the Deer Valley Unified and Kyrene school districts. The company The 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 for alternative fuels is great, there are few producers ready to meet the growing need. There are nearly 27 billion gallons of diesel consumed annually in the United States alone, and an additional volume is consumed internationally. It is the goal of the United States Department of Energy that 30% of petroleum-based motor fuel be replaced by alternative fuels by the year 2010. Federal and state fleets are mandated to use up to 75% domestically produced alternative fuels. President George W. Bush's recently released National Energy Policy emphasized the growing role that biodiesel will play in the nation's energy future. Southern States Power is poised to capture a significant portion of the rapidly expanding biodiesel market through an aggressive marketing plan as well as contacts in government, business and industry. Tightening clean air standards and growing fossil fuel costs are forcing private commercial fleets to look toward alternative fuel products. Major biodiesel initiatives have been passed in Arizona, Ohio, New Jersey, Nevada, Delaware and Iowa. More information can be found at the company's Web site: www.sspowerco.com. Safe Harbor This news release may contain forward-looking statements, which are made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements involve a number of risks and uncertainties, including the timely development and market acceptance of products and technologies and other factors described in the company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The actual results may differ materially from any forward-looking statements due to such risk and uncertainties. The company undertakes no obligation to revise or update any forward-looking statements in order to reflect events or circumstances that may arise after the date of this release. CONTACT: Southern States Power Company Inc. Mark Taylor, (Investor Relations), 909/476-3575, Fax 909/476-3576 ir@sspowerco.com URL: businesswire.com Today's News On The Net - Business Wire's full file on the Internet with Hyperlinks to your home page. Copyright (C) 2001 Business Wire. All rights reserved.