Calpine Corp., a San Jose-based independent power company,announced plans to build, own and operate a 540-megawatt gas-firedpower plant in Westbrook, ME. Calpine acquired development rightsfor the Westbrook Power Plant from Genesis Power Corp. of Needham,MA. Construction of the $300 million facility is scheduled to beginlater this month. The plant, which will burn about 90 MMcf/d, isscheduled to begin power deliveries as early as November 2000 andwill serve the New England market. Westbrook is Calpine’s fourthcombined-cycle facility under development in the New Englandmarket.

Natural gas for the Westbrook facility will be transportedthrough a dedicated connection to a pipeline jointly owned andmanaged by Portland Natural Gas Transmission System and Maritimesand Northeast Pipeline. This jointly owned pipeline, locatedbetween Westbrook and Dracut, MA, will provide the facility withaccess to gas from the Sable Offshore Energy Project as well aswestern Canadian and mid-western and southern U.S. gas reserves.

“With the addition of the Westbrook Power Plant, Calpine’s NewEngland power portfolio will produce enough electricity to supplymore than one million households by 2000,” said Bob Alff, Calpine’svice president – eastern region. “We look forward to providing thecommunities we serve with a much needed source of clean, reliableand affordable energy.”

New England is one of the most attractive, highest priced energymarkets in the nation. The region’s 23,000 MW power base iscomprised of many old, inefficient oil and coal-fired facilitiesand nuclear power plants. To date, about 2,400 MW of nuclearproduction has been retired, with an additional 500 MW of capacityslated for closure by 2003.

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