Environmental Programs

Calpine has supported many kinds of environmental protection and enhancement programs. Some of these activities have been developed as part of a power plant permitting process and some have been developed on a voluntary basis, going above and beyond regulatory requirements.

Lawnmower Buy Back
A typical gasoline lawnmower emits as much pollution in an hour as 40 late model automobiles. To help support improved air quality in the San Francisco Bay Area, Calpine and the Bay Area Air Quality Management District (BAAQMD) were major sponsors of a county-wide Lawnmower Buy-Back Day. In exchange for old, polluting gasoline lawnmowers, 600 people received a $150 coupon towards the purchase of clean, new cordless electric mulching lawnmowers. For more information on this and other BAAQMD programs, go to Public Information at www.baaqmd.gov.

Our City Forest
Calpine worked with this organization to provide funding for tree planting and education. The donation funded the purchase of a vehicle to transport trees into schoolyards and neighborhoods. The donation made it possible for the staff to provide technical training to residents and students to make sure the trees were properly planted. Volunteers are trained in tree stewardship and trees are tracked for a period of three years to help ensure their survival. Our City Forest has received many awards for their work, having planted over 20,000 trees in the San Jose area and maintaining a 90% tree survival rate. For more information, go to www.ourcityforest.org.

The Calpine Hildalgo Citrus Grove, a research and development program, Texas
In South Texas, Calpine is supporting a research and development project with the Sustainable Agronomic Education Association. This non-profit group manages a citrus grove leased to them by Calpine, using it for research and education. Fruit from the organic plot will be marketed as organic produce. Funding for the project is by donation and crop sales. Much of the current 40-ton crop is being harvested and donated to local charity organizations. The grove is divided into three plots of approximately seven acres each. One plot will focus on growing under a conventional program using chemical fertilizers and pesticides. The second plot will focus on growing with organic methods using cover crops and compost as fertilizer and beneficial insects and approved organic spray materials for the control of insects and diseases. The third plot will use a mix of the two methods with chemicals only used as absolutely necessary. Annual comparisons will be made with regard to input costs, yield, quality and net return per acre and data will be shared with growers and interested parties.