2010 EMISSIONS DATA
EMISSIONS AND OUR ENVIRONMENTAL PROFILE
Our environmental record has been widely recognized. We are an EPA Climate Leaders Partner with a
stated goal to reduce GHG emissions, we became the first power producer to earn the distinction of Climate Action
LeaderTM, and we have certified our GHG emissions inventory with the California Climate Action Registry every
year since 2003. In 2010, our emissions of GHG amounted to about [ 42 ] million tons.
Natural Gas-Fired Generation
Our natural gas-fired, primarily combined cycle fleet consumes significantly less fuel to generate power
than conventional boiler/steam turbine power plants and emits fewer air pollutants per MWh of power produced as
compared to coal-fired or oil-fired power plants. All of our power plants have air emissions controls and most have
selective catalytic reduction to further reduce emissions of nitrogen oxides, a precursor of atmospheric ozone. In
addition, we have implemented a program of proprietary operating procedures to reduce natural gas consumption
and further lower air pollutant emissions per MWh of power generated. The table below summarizes approximate
air pollutant emission rates from our natural gas-fired, combined cycle power plants compared to the average
emission rates from U.S. coal-, oil- and natural gas-fired power plants as a group, based on the most recent statistics
available to us.
Air Pollutants
Air Pollutant Emission Rates —
Pounds of Pollutant Emitted
Per MWh of Power Generated
Calpine
Compared to
Average U.S. Coal-, Oil-,
Natural Gas-Fired,
Average U.S. Coal-, Oil-,
and Natural Gas-Fired
Combined-Cycle
and Natural Gas-Fired
Power Plant(1)
Power Plant(2)
Power Plant
Nitrogen Oxide, NOx
Acid rain, smog and fine particulate formation
1.94
0.136
93.0%
Sulfur Dioxide, SO2
Acid rain and fine particulate formation
4.2
0.0064
99.8%
0.00003
0.0
100%
Mercury Compounds(3)
Neurotoxin
1,858
904
51.3%
Carbon Dioxide, CO2
Principal GHG—contributor to climate change
___________
(1)
The average U.S. coal-, oil- and natural gas-fired power plant’s emission rates were obtained from the U.S.
Department of Energy’s Electric Power Annual Report for 2010. Emission rates are based on 2010 emissions
and net generation.
(2)
Our natural gas-fired, combined-cycle power plant estimated emission rates are based on our 2010 emissions
and power generation data from our natural gas-fired combined-cycle power plants (excluding combined heat
power plants) as measured under the EPA reporting requirements.
(3)
The U.S. coal-, oil- and natural gas-fired power plant air emissions of mercury compounds were obtained
from the U.S. EPA Toxics Release Inventory for 2010. Emission rates are based on 2010 emissions and net
generation from U.S. Department of Energy’s Electric Power Annual Report for 2010.