March 22, 2004—Calpine Corporation, has won an environmental award from the University of Colorado for its leadership in producing electricity in an environmentally responsible manner.
The University’s Tim Wirth Chair on Environmental and Community Development Policy selected Calpine for the award for sustainable business. Calpine operates two power plants in Colorado. The Rocky Mountain Energy Center (Hudson) provides 621 megawatts of electricity—enough to supply more than 600,000 households. Its 265-megawatt Blue Spruce Energy Center (Aurora) is a “peaker” plant that is designed to generate electricity to help meet peak power demand periods.
Both projects are setting new environmental standards for power generation in Colorado while providing a reliable and long-term energy solution. For example, compared to the average U.S. gas-fired power plant, Calpine’s Rocky Mountain Energy Center uses up to 40 percent less fuel and is achieving dramatic emissions reductions by using combined-cycle combustion turbine design and advanced emissions control systems.
To help meet the company’s fuels requirements and provide a much needed fuel resource for the natural gas-fired generation industry, Calpine’s natural gas operations in Colorado produce approximately 12 million cubic feet per day and boast 100 billion cubic feet equivalent in proven and probable reserves.
