Calpine Corporation (NYSE:CPN) commemorated the start of
commercial operations with a dedication ceremony at its new Otay
Mesa Energy Center (OMEC) near San Diego, Calif.
The occasion was marked by celebratory events at OMEC which
included numerous speeches by executives from Calpine and San Diego
Gas & Electric and public officials including State Senator
Christine Kehoe, Supervisor Greg Cox of the San Diego County Board
of Supervisors, Jan Smutney Jones, Executive Director of
Independent Energy Producers Association and Michael Peevey,
President of the California Pubic Utilities Commission.
In addition, tours of the facility were given and participants
enjoyed a performance by San Ysidro High School’s Baile Folklorico
dance troupe.
OMEC is a highly efficient combined-cycle power plant, fueled by
natural gas and fitted with advanced air emissions control
technology. In addition, in a first-of-its-kind program, Calpine
paid to retrofit older marine vessels and sanitation vehicles with
vastly improved emission control technology in order to generate
mobile emissions credits that have reduced overall pollution in the
region. These permanently retired emissions more than offset
emissions from the plant, resulting in a net air quality benefit
for the San Diego region.
The facility also is the largest air cooled power plant in the
State of California, conserving precious water by eliminating the
need to use ground or potable municipal water to cool recirculated
steam.
“The Otay Mesa Energy Center demonstrates Calpine’s continuing
commitment to developing sustainable energy solutions for the
people of California,” said Calpine President and Chief Executive
Officer Jack Fusco. “We are excited about this and our future
projects in this great state and look forward to breaking ground on
two other facilities, the Russell City Energy Center in Hayward and
the expansion of Los Esteros Energy Center in Northern
California.”
The plant, with a capacity of almost 600 megawatts, began
commercial operation Oct. 3 and is generating electric power for
customers of San Diego Gas & Electric in the region.
Supportive Quotes about the Otay Mesa Energy Center
“It is wonderful to see this state-of-the-art facility in
operation, which serves as a model with its support from every arm
of the community,” said Debra Reed, President and Chief Executive
Officer of San Diego Gas & Electric. “This helps us provide
affordable electricity to the customers we serve.”
“Advanced technology power plants such as the Otay Mesa Energy
Center play a critical role in meeting our demand for reliable
sources of energy,” said State Senator Christine Kehoe. “In
addition, this project represents an example of a private company
working with local labor unions to create good jobs for workers in
our region.”
“The Otay Mesa Energy Center is a vital part of our state’s
overall energy policy,” said Michael Peevey, President of the
California Public Utilities Commission. “By bringing this facility
online we can further our goal of retiring older, aging power
plants in the region.”
“Today is a very good day for independent energy producers in
the State of California,” said Jan Smutney Jones, Executive
Director of the Independent Energy Producers Association. “Calpine
should be commended for its commitment and dedication to seeing
this project to the finish.”
“We are proud to have partnered with Calpine to build this world
class facility,” said Art Cantu, Secretary-Treasurer of the San
Diego Building and Construction Trades Council. “This partnership
is important to keeping our working men and women surviving during
this difficult economy.”
Calpine’s Commitment to California
Calpine has built and operated power plants in the State of
California for 25 years and prides itself in developing innovative
and environmentally responsible energy solutions for the people of
California. The Otay Mesa Energy Center will increase Calpine’s
California portfolio to 38 power plants and more than 5,800
megawatts including 725 megawatts of renewable geothermal energy.
Calpine’s geothermal facilities at The Geysers supply about 20
percent of California’s renewable electric generation. Taken as a
whole, Calpine’s projects produce enough electricity to satisfy the
power needs of more than six million California households.
About Calpine
Calpine Corporation is helping meet the needs of an economy that
demands more and cleaner sources of electricity. Founded in 1984,
Calpine is a major U.S. power company, currently capable of
delivering nearly 25,000 megawatts of clean, cost-effective,
reliable and fuel-efficient electricity to customers and
communities in 16 states in the United States and Canada. Calpine
owns, leases, and operates low-carbon, natural gas-fired, and
renewable geothermal power plants. Using advanced technologies,
Calpine generates electricity in a reliable and environmentally
responsible manner for the customers and communities it serves.
Please visit www.calpine.com for more information.
Forward-Looking Information
In addition to historical information, this release contains
forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the
Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Words such as
"believe," "intend," "expect," "anticipate," "plan," "may," "will"
and similar expressions identify forward-looking statements. Such
statements include, among others, those concerning expected
financial performance and strategic and operational plans, as well
as assumptions, expectations, predictions, intentions or beliefs
about future events. You are cautioned that any such
forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance
and that a number of risks and uncertainties could cause actual
results to differ materially from those anticipated in the
forward-looking statements. Please see the risks identified in this
release or in Calpine's reports and registration statements filed
with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including, without
limitation, the risk factors identified in its Annual Report on
Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2008. These filings are
available by visiting the Securities and Exchange Commission's web
site at www.sec.gov or Calpine's web site at www.calpine.com.
Actual results or developments may differ materially from the
expectations expressed or implied in the forward-looking
statements, and Calpine undertakes no obligation to update any such
statements.
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