A West Coast power utility has committed to purchase 259-megawatts-worth of renewable energy from solar plants and a wind farm, according to published reports.

Southern California Edison is acting to fulfill California state requirements mandating that utilities provide 20 percent of their power from renewable energy sources by 2010, according to BrighterEnergy.org. Those figures increase to 33 percent by 2020.

"We view these agreements as a win for business, a win for our customers, and a win for the environment," said Marc Ulrich, the power utility's vice president for renewable and alternative power.

By purchasing solar energy from 20 photovoltaic plants and one wind farm, Southern California Edison said it will be able to power more than 168,000 homes. Nine of the solar contracts are with Silverado Power of San Francisco, four are from Ammonix of Seal Beach, two are from Foresight Renewables of San Francisco and Juwi Solar of Colorado each, and Clear Peak Energy of Arizona is providing one.

The power utility serves electricity to 4.9 million customers and said each independent producer of power is responsible for the appropriate permitting.