Reliant Energy and Nissan Join Forces to Expand Electric Vehicle Use in Texas

HOUSTON--The city of Houston and state of Texas took a significant step closer to a transportation system that is clean, affordable and powered by electricity. Reliant Energy, a subsidiary of NRG Energy, Inc. , and Nissan Motor Co. are working together to promote broader adoption of electric vehicles.

Reliant and Nissan have reached an agreement to work together to make Houston a launch city for the broader use of electric vehicles by the American public, businesses and public organizations. The companies will advocate for policies that make it easy for consumers to make the switch from gasoline to electric-powered vehicles and will work together to establish the infrastructure of charging stations needed to support a critical mass of electric vehicles. While initial efforts will focus on the Houston region, Reliant and Nissan will also address the challenge of establishing the infrastructure, policies and services to support electric vehicle owners across Texas.

“This agreement with Nissan is another part of our comprehensive effort to speed up the adoption of a broad-based electric-powered transportation ecosystem,” said David Crane, Chief Executive Officer of NRG. “We have much of the needed infrastructure in place – an excellent road system, a diverse national portfolio of power generation, and the means to deliver electricity to homes, offices, businesses and streets across the nation. Now we need to focus on tying these elements together with the technology, services and policies needed to power electric transportation.”

“We can now see a clear path to having thousands – even hundreds of thousands – of zero-emission vehicles on Texas roads in the next several years,” said Jason Few, President of Reliant Energy. “Reliant has already introduced smart electricity for homeowners, allowing them to better manage consumption and cost with tools such as digital meters. By adding a robust charging network and services dedicated to electric vehicles, we will be able to offer a viable alternative to fossil-fuel powered transportation, taking advantage of Texas’ leadership in zero-carbon power generation.”

“Together, Nissan, NRG and Reliant Energy share the vision that electric vehicles offer the best solution to reducing CO2 emissions. The Nissan LEAF is the only all-electric, zero-emission vehicle that will be available to drivers on a mass-market scale and at an affordable price,” said Nissan President and CEO Carlos Ghosn.

As part of the agreement, Reliant will develop a plan to install and operate public charging stations, initially focused in Houston. In addition, Reliant will work to develop a comprehensive set of electricity services geared to supporting electric vehicles, including home charging equipment. Reliant and Nissan will work to ensure that the infrastructure and services are in place to support the commercial introduction of the Nissan LEAF in late 2010.

Representatives from Reliant, NRG and Nissan made the announcement in Los Angeles at the North American unveiling of the Nissan LEAF, the world’s first zero-emission all-electric vehicle designed to be affordably priced. In 2010, Nissan will introduce a five-passenger, compact all-electric passenger vehicle for fleet sales that is capable of achieving 100 miles on a single charge. Charging of the advanced lithium-ion battery is expected to take four to eight hours with a 220-volt line and also will be capable of charging through a standard 120-volt outlet. The vehicle will be eligible for a $7,500 federal tax credit.

NRG and Reliant Energy

NRG Energy, Inc., a Fortune 500 company, owns and operates one of the country’s largest and most diverse power generation portfolios. Headquartered in Princeton, NJ, the Company’s power plants provide more than 24,000 megawatts of generation capacity—enough to supply more than 20 million homes. NRG’s retail business, Reliant Energy, serves more than 1.6 million residential, business, commercial and industrial customers in Texas. A past recipient of the energy industry’s highest honors—Platts Industry Leadership and Energy Company of the Year awards, NRG is a member of the U.S. Climate Action Partnership (USCAP), a group of business and environmental organizations calling for mandatory legislation to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. More information is available at www.nrgenergy.com and www.reliant.com.

Nissan North America

In North America, Nissan's operations include automotive design, engineering, consumer and corporate financing, sales and marketing, distribution and manufacturing. Nissan is dedicated to improving the environment under the Nissan Green Program 2010, whose key priorities are reducing CO2 emissions, cutting other emissions and increasing recycling. More information on the Nissan LEAF and zero-emission mobility can be found at www.nissanusa.com/leaf-electric-car.

Safe Harbor Disclosure

This news release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Such forward-looking statements are subject to certain risks, uncertainties and assumptions include expectations regarding the development of electric vehicles and include statements which typically can be identified by the use of words such as “will,” “expect,” “estimate,” “anticipate,” “forecast,” “plan,” “believe” and similar terms. Although NRG believes that its expectations are reasonable, it can give no assurance that these expectations will prove to have been correct, and actual results may vary materially. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contemplated above include, among others, general economic conditions, hazards customary in the power industry, competition in wholesale and retail power markets, the volatility of energy and fuel prices, failure of customers to perform under contracts, changes in the wholesale and retail power markets, changes in government regulation of markets and of environmental emissions, and the condition of the capital markets.

NRG undertakes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. The foregoing review of factors that could cause NRG’s actual results to differ materially from those contemplated in the forward-looking statements included in this news release should be considered in connection with information regarding risks and uncertainties that may affect NRG’s future results included in NRG’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission at www.sec.gov.