Incentives from Union Gas Help EPCOR Power L.P. Plant to Improve Energy Efficiency and Lower Operating Costs
NORTH BAY, Ontario - August 18, 2009 - The EPCOR Power L.P. (EPLP) Power Plant in North Bay is receiving $65,000 in incentives under the Union Gas EnerSmart program for actions the company has taken to reduce energy consumption and lighten the plant’s environmental footprint.
The North Bay Power Plant has conducted major overhauls to its gas and power turbines used to generate electricity over the past year, improving energy efficiency by 3.5 per cent -- a savings of approximately 2.1 million cubic metres of natural gas. At today’s market prices that amounts to $275,000 in savings annually. Improvements were also made to the plant’s steam traps, which will save about 21.6 million pounds of steam each year.
"These projects have resulted in significant performance improvements at the North Bay Power Plant, increasing power generation while using less fuel," said plant manager, Sean Gillespie. "The incentive funding provided through the Union Gas EnerSmart program has helped us to achieve substantial environmental and economic benefits."
"Environmental stewardship is a core business value for Union Gas and we are committed to helping our business customers make smart investments in energy-efficient equipment and technologies," said Mel Ydreos, vice-president marketing and customer care, Union Gas. "These investments can not only boost the bottom line, they also help the environment."
The Union Gas EnerSmart program offers incentives to its commercial and industrial customers to implement projects that will use natural gas more efficiently and lower operating costs. Incentives are also available to large industrial customers for gas/power turbine overhauls and energy audits.
About EPCOR Power L.P.
Established in 1997, EPCOR Power L.P. is a limited partnership organized under the laws of the Province of Ontario. The Partnership’s portfolio consists of 19 wholly-owned power generation assets located in Canada and the United States, a 50.15 per cent interest in a power generation asset in Washington State, and an overall 15.4 per cent equity interest in Primary Energy Recycling Holdings LLC (PERH). The Partnership’s assets have a total net generating capacity of 1,400 megawatts and more than four million pounds per hour of thermal energy. PERH wholly owns four recycled energy assets in the United States with an aggregate generation capacity of 283 megawatts and nearly two million pounds per hour of thermal energy, and has a 50 per cent interest in a pulverized coal facility. EPCOR USA Ventures LLC, formerly Primary Energy Ventures LLC, a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Partnership, manages and operates these facilities for PERH. For more information on the Partnership, please visit: http://www.epcorpowerlp.ca/.
About Union Gas Limited
Union Gas Limited is a major Canadian natural gas storage, transmission and distribution company based in Ontario with nearly 100 years of experience and service to customers. The distribution business serves 1.3 million residential, commercial and industrial customers in more than 400 communities across northern, southwestern and eastern Ontario. Union Gas's growing storage and transmission business offers premium storage and transportation services to customers at the Dawn Hub, the largest underground storage facility in Canada and one of the largest in North America. It offers customers an important link in the movement of natural gas from Western Canadian and U.S. supply basins to markets in central Canada and the northeast U.S. A Spectra Energy company, Union Gas has assets of $4 billion and approximately 2,200 employees. Visit http://www.uniongas.com/ for more information.
For more information, please contact:
Lori Wilson
Manager, Public Consultation
Capital Power Corporation
Ph: 519.440.1404
Fax: 416.773.7470
E-mail: lawilson@capitalpower.com
Andrea Stass
Manager, Public Affairs and Media Relations Union Gas Limited
Ph: 519 436-5490 or 1-800-571-8446 ext. 5490
Cell: 519 365-1010
Fax: 519 436-4621
E-mail: astass@uniongas.com