Helio Micro Utility Hires Seasoned Project Finance Executive

San Francisco, Calif. – July 12, 2010 – Helio Micro Utility (Helio mU), a developer and financier of renewable energy projects, today announced Sue Sparks as vice president of project finance.  Ms. Sparks brings to Helio mU a track record of $9 billion in successful structured finance transactions. 

Prior to joining the Helio mU team, Ms. Sparks’ 30-year career has included senior level finance positions with Bank of America, Babcock & Brown, GE Capital and Prudential Capital. Her roles have included originating, structuring, placing and closing equipment, facility and real estate transactions employing tax leases, term loans, revenue bonds and project financing structures.

Helio Micro Utility, spun out of HelioPower in 2007, works with established financial partners to develop, own and operate large commercial and utility scale solar assets in the United States and abroad. In 2008 the firm worked with Citi Community Capital, a division of Citi, to form the Helio Green Energy Community Investment Fund, a $100 million solar financing program.  The initial project for the Helio Green Energy Fund was The Tech Museum in San Jose, CA. Sister company HelioPower, founded in 2001, has installed more than 1200 solar power systems worldwide.

“Finance is the critical leverage point in deploying renewable energy assets” said Ty Jagerson, President of Helio mU.  “Sue brings the experience, the know-how and the relationships we need as we scale the development and construction of both our solar and other hybridized renewable projects. We’re delighted to have Sue on board”.

Sue Sparks said, “In one of the most critical times in energy evolution in our country, I am thrilled to join forces with the Helio Micro Utility team.  They have demonstrated a successful track record developing and funding a growing portfolio of solar assets during a very difficult time in the financial markets.   We are aligned in our goals to accelerate the adoption of clean energy technologies in the U.S.  Effective asset based financing programs are critical to this mission.”

About Helio Micro Utility

Helio Micro Utility (Helio mU) is a Clean Energy Utility™.  The company develops, owns and operates solar power systems.  The Helio mU Buy Power not Panels™ program makes purchasing solar energy more accessible for commercial, public sector and large scale energy users. The performance of its solar power systems is guaranteed by the company’s Investment Grade™ system standards which drive implementation of the industry’s best practices, quality, and efficiency standards for solar energy production. Helio Micro Utility is headquartered in San Francisco, CA. For more information please visit http://www.HeliomU.com.

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Media Contact: 

Glenna Wiseman

Vice President, Marketing

M: 760 518 6158

GWiseman@Heliomu.com