January 11, 2000 10:01 AM
SAN JOSE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jan. 11, 2000--Calpine Corporation CPN , the national independent power company, announced it is expanding its presence in the Florida wholesale power market, with plans to invest approximately $750 million in power generation facilities. Calpine will manage its Southeast development activities from a new office to be opened in Tampa, Fla.
Calpine will develop two natural gas-fired energy centers to serve Florida's increasing power demand. The proposed projects include the 1,080-megawatt Blue Heron Energy Center, to be located in Indian River County outside the City of Vero Beach, and the 540-megawatt Osprey Energy Center, to be located in the City of Auburndale adjacent to Calpine's existing power facility. Together, the proposed energy centers will produce enough electricity to power nearly two million Florida households with clean, competitively priced electricity.
According to Bob Alff, Calpine vice president-Eastern region, "Florida is among the fastest growing electricity markets in the country and is expected to need as much as 800 megawatts of new generating capacity per year to meet growing demand and to ensure adequate reserve margins." He added that, "Calpine is very excited about the opportunity to help bring the competitive and environmental benefits of modern, independent power facilities to Florida customers."
Both facilities will use advanced technology power generation equipment supplied by Siemens Westinghouse Power Corporation of Orlando, Fla. The projects will generate electric power using a highly efficient combined-cycle configuration to conserve natural resources and to lower energy prices.
The Blue Heron Energy Center will produce up to 1,080 megawatts of electricity and represents an investment of approximately $500 million. The $250 million Osprey Energy Center is designed to generate 540 megawatts of electric power. Construction for the proposed facilities is planned for 2001, with the Osprey project slated to enter commercial operation in early 2003, followed by the Blue Heron facility in mid-2003.
"Like our other Calpine development projects," noted Alff, "Osprey and Blue Heron will be up to 40 percent more fuel efficient than traditional gas-fired power plants and will be equipped with advanced emission control technology." He added that, "We are committed to being a low-cost producer of environmentally responsible energy. Our Florida projects will provide the economic benefits of competitively-priced wholesale power, the environmental benefits of clean-burning natural gas, and the local job and tax benefits associated with construction and operation of these facilities."
Calpine will open its Tampa, Fla. office in March 2000. The new office will support development of the Osprey and Blue Heron facilities and Calpine's other Southeastern operations, including the 150-megawatt Auburndale, Fla. facility. Calpine acquired a 50 percent interest in the Auburndale facility in 1997. |
