Calpine Adds 1350 MW To Battle Summer Power Demands

San Jose, CA — With several Western states, especially California, either setting or on the verge of establishing new power demand records this summer, Calpine Corporation's fleet of energy-efficient and renewable power plants stands ready to meet the unprecedented power demand.

"With Calpine's Metcalf and Pastoria power plants, Calpine has added 1,350 megawatts of generating capacity in California in time for peak summer demand," said Calpine Chairman, President and CEO Peter Cartwright. "Collectively, these projects can meet the energy needs of more than one million California homes. As well, at 750 megawatts, Calpine's Pastoria facility is making a fundamental difference in providing for electricity demand in Southern California."

In a report issued this spring, the California Independent System Operator (ISO) forecasts record power demand will occur by the end of August, eclipsing last year's demand record by more than 1,000 megawatts. The California Energy Commission has issued similar projections and expressed concerns about adequate power supplies as well as transmission constraints. Already, the ISO has declared two Stage 2 power emergencies and Nevada has set an all-time demand record, achieving a demand level projected for 2008.

"Since 2001, Calpine has constructed more than 4,000 megawatts of the cleanest and most efficient power generation ever built in the state," added Cartwright. "However, Californians must keep conservation in mind as we use power this summer."

With the completion of the Metcalf and Pastoria projects, Calpine's California project portfolio has grown to 41 power plants totaling more than 5,250 megawatts. This is enough power to satisfy the needs of more than five million households. As well, almost eighty percent of the Calpine portfolio has been constructed in the last five years, a stark contrast to California's aging power fleet.

SOURCE: Calpine Corporation