With electricity woes in California continuing to grow inseverity, Calpine Corp. is in the process of easing the strain inthe long term as it considers plans to develop and operate an 1,100MW natural gas-fired electric generating facility in AlamedaCounty, CA.

The proposed $550 million East Altamont Energy Center wouldgenerate enough electricity to supply one million homes in northernCalifornia, while producing 90% fewer emissions than old-technologypower plants.

Calpine has chosen a 50-acre site adjacent to the Western AreaPower Administration’s (Western) electrical substation forconstruction of the facility. The San Jose-based company hasalready proposed to tie in the plant’s capacity to Western’stransmission system.

“California needs additional generating facilities and theproposed site for the East Altamont Energy Center is well suited toimprove electric system reliability as well as provide much neededgeneration,” said Jerry Toenyes, Western’s Sierra Nevada regionalmanager.

Pending regulatory approvals of the project, Calpine expects tobegin construction in June 2002, with commercial operationbeginning in June 2004.

Alex Steis

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