Calpine said it acquired the development rights from Enron NorthAmerica for the 750 MW gas-fired Pastoria Energy Center planned forKern County, CA. The $500 million project was licensed by theCalifornia Energy Commission in December 2000 and construction isexpected to begin this summer. Energy deliveries are scheduled tobegin by summer 2003 in time to help meet Southern California’sgrowing peak summer power demand. “This project significantlyadvances Calpine’s $4 billion energy initiative to bring 8,000 MWof new generating capacity to the California market in the nextfour years,” said Calpine’s Vice President — BusinessDevelopment John King. Pastoria will be built about 30 miles southof Bakersfield on property leased from the Tejon Ranch Corp. Thefacility will feature three General Electric Frame 7FA gascombustion turbines in combined-cycle with two steam turbines,representing 750 MW of capacity.

Sithe Energiesrevealed that landowner opposition has forced thecompany to downsize its proposed power plant in Ramapo, NY. Thealternative currently under review is a smaller peaking facilitythat would use no water for generation and operate only duringtimes of peak electricity use and emergencies to help ensurereliability of the region’s electricity supply. The plantoriginally was to be an 827 MW combined cycle facility fueled bynatural gas. The alternative is a 510 MW peaking unit also poweredby gas. “Sithe has a strong history of working closely with localcommunities and inviting their input to ensure their major issuesare addressed,” said Jim McGowan, Sithe senior vice president fordevelopment. “Since our initial proposal more than a year ago,we’ve met many times with local officials, community organizationsand residents. We’ve listened carefully to their concerns and areaddressing them by considering a facility that is clean, lessvisible, and uses no water for generation.” He said the companycontinues to believe the site is a good location. Companyrepresentatives will be meeting with local and regional officialsand community organizations to discuss the alternative facilityover the next several weeks. “Countless studies, including onereleased just last week by the New York Independent SystemOperator, have shown that New York State needs new power generatingfacilities to meet increased consumer demand for clean electricity,particularly downstate,” McGowan said. “This region cannot affordto fall behind in meeting its energy requirements — a mistake forwhich California is now paying a tremendous price. The strategiclocation of the existing Ramapo substation is ideal and will enableSithe’s facility to provide an adequate supply of clean electricityto consumers when they need it most.”

©Copyright 2001 Intelligence Press Inc. All rights reserved. Thepreceding news report may not be republished or redistributed, inwhole or in part, in any form, without prior written consent ofIntelligence Press, Inc.