Calpine Corp. reported on Wednesday that it has placed its 525 MW natural gas-fired Westbrook Energy Center into commercial operation. The facility has successfully completed startup and final testing and is available to help meet peak summer power demand throughout the New England Power Pool. Located in Westbrook, ME, Calpine said Westbrook Energy Center will serve consumers in New England. Westbrook is Calpine’s fifth New England facility to successfully enter the region’s power market, significantly expanding the company’s regional portfolio of natural gas-fired combined-cycle generating capacity to a total of approximately 1,230 MW, with an additional 500 MW in late-stage development. In addition to Westbrook, Calpine’s New England portfolio includes the Androscoggin Energy Center in Jay, ME (52 MW net interest), the 251 MW Rumford Power facility in Rumford, ME, the 240 MW Tiverton Power facility in Tiverton, RI, and the 168 MW Dighton Power facility located in Dighton, MA. In addition, Calpine said it is awaiting final permits for the 500 MW Towantic Energy Center to be located in Oxford, CT. All of Calpine’s New England assets are combined-cycle units.

With California again heading into rolling blackouts as the mercury rises this spring, there’s some good news for parts of the state. Municipal utilities serving the cities of Anaheim, Colton, Glendale and Pasadena already have joined Burbank Water and Power (BWP) in proposing an accelerated six-month licensing process to the California Energy Commission for the construction of a 240 MW power plant. The Magnolia Power Project (MPP) announced plans on Wednesday to submit an application for certification on May 14 to begin the state licensing process for a natural gas-fired electric generating unit to be constructed at BWP’s existing generating station complex in Burbank. The group estimates the total project cost to be in the $200 million range. “The cities are proposing to construct a clean-burning, natural gas-fueled generating unit by mid-2004 to provide participants a reliable, long-term electricity resource,” he said. “As the state’s energy prices have soared, MPP participants see construction of this unit as a means of providing an independent, low-cost energy supply for their customers. MPP energy will be produced for only 5 cents to 8.5 cents per kWh, which will help maintain lower electrical rates in these cities.”

The Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers (CAPP) will host “Canada’s Oil and Natural Gas in the North American Energy Market” seminar next week in Washington, DC. Speakers representing both Canada and the United States will share their views on a continental energy market, with specific attention on Canada’s role in meeting the United States’ demand for energy. Presenters will take a regional approach, focusing on the development of the oil sands, Northern natural gas, crude oil and natural gas in Atlantic and Western Canada, and environmental stewardship. The seminar is on Thursday, May 17 from 2:30-4:30 p.m. in the Dirksen Senate Office Building’s senate appropriations hearing room SD124. For more information, call (403) 267-1174.

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