Mirant

[Joe Stocks]

Calpine sees 2 Calif. power plants in service soon

April 27, 2005 13:44:18 (ET)


NEW YORK, April 27 (Reuters) - Calpine Corp. (CPN,Trade) is close to completing two big power plants in energy hungry California, officials at the California-based energy company said Wednesday.

Very soon, a company spokesman said, Calpine will put the first 250-megawatt phase of the 769 MW Pastoria Energy Facility in service. Pastoria is located on the Tejon Ranch just south of Bakersfield.

When the second phase enters service in June, the combined cycle station will have three General Electric Co. (GE,Trade) natural gas-fired turbines and two steam turbines. At full power, the plant will provide enough energy for more than 700,000 homes.

Also in June, the company expects to commission the 602 MW Metcalf Energy Center in one of the most energy deficient parts of California, San Jose. Metcalf consists of two gas-fired turbines and one steam turbine.

In addition, the company has another plant under construction in California in San Diego called the Otay Mesa Energy Center.

The 593 MW natural gas-fired Otay Mesa combined cycle facility will enter service by January 2008.

One megawatt powers about 1,000 homes, according to the North American average.

Calpine subsidiaries own more than 30,000 MW of generating capacity in operation or under construction and markets energy commodities in North America and the United Kingdom.