[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 82 (Tuesday, June 15, 2004)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1132]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




      CONGRESSIONAL RECORD STATEMENT ON CALPINE'S 20TH ANNIVERSARY

                                 ______
                                 

                            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.

  Calpine Corporation has exhibited leadership in California on 
corporate responsibility by taking decisive action during the state's 
energy crisis to keep their power plants operating even in the face of 
financial loss due to the high cost of fuel. Despite the uncertainty 
about California's future design of its energy markets, Calpine has 
continued to invest in the state. Calpine has already invested $5 
billion and employs over 1000 workers to operate 39 power plants in 
California and is committed to investing another $3 billion to meet the 
growing demand for power in the state.
  Calpine has exhibited environmental leadership by adopting a 
unanimous board resolution committing the company to a low carbon 
future, by joining the California Climate Registry and the Silicon 
Valley Manufacturing Group's Voluntary Global Warming Initiative, by 
building only low-emitting gas-fired power plants using state-of-the-
art pollution control equipment, and by being the world's leading 
producer of renewable geothermal energy and the country's largest 
producer of cogenerated power.
  Finally, Calpine is a leader in community service with a long history 
of partnering with community organizations, as well as funding 
community and educational programs that seek to change lives and 
strengthen the fabric of our society. Calpine also supports the 
generous volunteerism of its employees and encourages them to take 
active roles in their communities making them even better places to 
live and work.
  I want to congratulate Calpine Corporation and its Chairman, Pete 
Cartwright, for the wisdom of choosing California as its major place of 
business, for continuing to invest in California, for showing 
leadership in the areas of the environment, corporate responsibility, 
and community service and for successfully reaching this milestone 
anniversary.

                          ____________________