17:15 EDT Thursday, September 01, 2011

Canada's most advanced coal-fired plant constructed with one of the best safety records in the industry

EDMONTON, Sept. 1, 2011 /CNW/ - Capital Power Corporation (TSX: CPX) (Capital Power) and TransAlta Corporation (TSX: TA; NYSE: TAC) (TransAlta) today announced the completion of the 495-megawatt gross (MW) Keephills 3 generating facility, the most advanced coal-fired plant ever built in Canada. The facility is now in commercial operation.

The cost to build the project is expected to be approximately $1.98 billion. Costs for the plant, excluding mine capital, are being equally shared by its owners - Capital Power, which led construction, and TransAlta, which will operate the plant.

Although the construction site was one of the largest and busiest in Alberta, with nearly 1,900 people working on the project at the peak of construction in March 2010, the project's safety record was one of the best in the industry.

"Safety has been a top priority for our contractors and crews throughout construction of the project," said Capital Power President & CEO Brian Vaasjo. "We are pleased to finish construction with one of the best safety records in the industry, with less than one lost time incident per 1.7 million hours worked."

"Congratulations and thanks to the team at Capital Power for their work on this project," said TransAlta President & CEO Steve Snyder. "This represents a significant milestone for TransAlta as we take responsibility for operating a state-of-the-art generating facility which provides Albertans with a source of reliable, economical and environmentally-responsible electricity."

Keephills 3 joins the TransAlta/Capital Power jointly owned Genesee 3 facility as one of Canada's cleanest coal-fired facilities. Keephills 3 is equipped with an advanced air quality control system, which achieves superior environmental performance and uses supercritical boiler technology, which features higher boiler temperatures and pressures, and a high-efficiency steam turbine. Because less fuel is used, the facility will emit approximately 24 per cent less carbon dioxide (CO2) in producing the same amount of power previously generated by the Wabamun units fully retired by TransAlta in 2010.

Emissions of sulphur dioxide (SO2), nitrous oxides (NOx) and mercury will be reduced by 60 to 80 per cent in comparison to the same amount of power produced by the Wabamun units. The facility also features a mercury emission control system, using activated carbon injection technology, and a high efficiency particulate collection system, using fabric filters (baghouse) to capture 99.9 per cent of particulate emissions.

About Capital Power Corporation

Capital Power is a growth-oriented North American independent power producer, building on more than a century of innovation and reliable performance. The Company's vision is to be recognized as one of North America's most respected, reliable and competitive power generators. Headquartered in Edmonton, Alberta, Capital Power has interests in 35 facilities in Canada and the U.S. totaling approximately 5,100 megawatts of generation capacity. Capital Power and its subsidiaries develop, acquire and optimize power generation from a wide range of energy sources. The company's web site can be accessed at www.capitalpower.com.

From Globe & Mail