Congressional Record Statement on Calpine's 20th Anniversary

CONGRESSIONAL RECORD STATEMENT ON CALPINE'S 20TH ANNIVERSARY -- (Extensions of Remarks - June 15, 2004)

SPEECH OF
HON. ZOE LOFGREN
OF CALIFORNIA
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
TUESDAY, JUNE 15, 2004

Ms. LOFGREN. Mr. Speaker, today, I would like to recognize and congratulate one of my hometown companies for achieving a milestone this month-the celebration of their 20th Anniversary. An energy industry entrepreneur, Pete Cartwright, along with four associates, founded Calpine Corporation, headquartered in San Jose, CA, 20 years ago. They began their business of building power plants and producing electricity by buying one megawatt of power in a geothermal power plant in Northern California. Today, Calpine has 30,000 megawatts of power plants in operation and construction (enough to power approximately 30 million homes), they operate the largest fleet of modern, environmentally sensitive gas-fired power plants in North America, and they oversee significant natural gas production, and are the world's largest producer of renewable geothermal energy.

While this is a remarkable achievement in an industry that has seen more than its share of turmoil and change over the last 20 years, Calpine has created a successful business while, at the same time, serving as the leading industry steward of the environment, acting as a good corporate citizen, and maintaining a rewarding workplace for its employees.

Let me give you some recent examples of the recognition Calpine has received for these achievements:

Fortune Magazine named Calpine "America's Most Respected Energy Company" in 2004.

The American Lung Associations of the Bay Area selected Calpine to receive its 2004 Clean Air Award for Technology Development at its Geysers geothermal operation.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Department of Energy awarded Calpine a 2003 ENERGY STAR Combined Heat and Power Award recognizing its Deer Park Energy Center for "leadership in energy supply" for using 30 percent less fuel than onsite thermal generation and purchased electricity.

The California Department of Conservation recognized Calpine's Geysers geothermal operations with an award for environmental stewardship, safety, infrastructure maintenance and resource conservation for the last two years.

The New York League of Conservation Voters just presented Calpine and its Chairman, Pete Cartwright, with its Clean Air Champion's Award for their outstanding leadership on behalf of New York's environment.

The University of Colorado's Tim Wirth Chair on Environmental and Community Development selected Calpine to receive its Award for Sustainable Business for their leadership in producing electricity in an environmentally responsible manner.