(HOUSTON, Texas) – March 18, 2019 – Calpine Corporation’s newest combined-cycle power plant, the York 2 Energy Center in Peach Bottom Township, Pennsylvania, commenced commercial operation on March 17, 2019, adding 828 megawatts of efficient, reliable and environmentally responsible electric generation capacity to the Mid-Atlantic power grid.
This new power plant is co-located with Calpine’s existing 565 megawatt York Energy Center, which commenced operation in 2011. Both of these highly efficient, combined-cycle plants are equipped with advanced environmental controls. Their combustion turbines primarily use cleaner-burning natural gas, taking advantage of the valuable Pennsylvania resource of natural gas. The plants are capable of also running on ultra-low-sulfur diesel fuel oil to enhance reliability.
“Plants with flexible, dual-fuel capabilities like our York energy centers are playing an increasingly important role in ensuring power reliability in the PJM region,” said Calpine’s President and Chief Executive Officer Thad Hill. “Importantly, York 2 was built and will operate cost-effectively without the need for government or public subsidies, demonstrating that letting the competitive markets work is the best way to optimize generation resources.”
Electricity is first generated at York 2 via two natural gas combustion turbines. The plant’s two heat recovery steam generators then use exhaust heat from the combustion turbines to produce steam, which is routed to a steam turbine to create more power. The plant’s capacity has cleared PJM’s base residual auctions through 2022.
About Calpine
Calpine Corporation is America’s largest generator of electricity from natural gas and geothermal resources with operations in competitive power markets. Our fleet of 79 power plants in operation represents more than 26,000 megawatts of generation capacity. Through wholesale power operations and our retail businesses Calpine Energy Solutions and Champion Energy, we serve customers in 24 states, Canada and Mexico. Our clean, efficient, modern and flexible fleet uses advanced technologies to generate power in a low-carbon and environmentally responsible manner. We are uniquely positioned to benefit from the secular trends affecting our industry, including the abundant and affordable supply of clean natural gas, environmental regulation, aging power generation infrastructure and the increasing need for dispatchable power plants to successfully integrate intermittent renewables into the grid. Please visit www.calpine.com to learn more about how Calpine is creating power for a sustainable future.
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Contacts:
Media Relations: Brett Kerr
713-830-8809
brett.kerr@calpine.com
Investor Relations: Bryan Kimzey
713-830-8774
bryan.kimzey@calpine.com
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