Fortis Generation includes the operations of non-regulated generating assets in
Belize, Ontario, central Newfoundland, British Columbia and Upper New York
State with a combined generating capacity of 139 MW, 134 MW of which is
hydroelectric generation.
BECOL owns and operates the 25 MW Mollejon, 7-MW Chalillo and, as of March 2010,
the 19-MW Vaca hydroelectric generating facilities located on the Macal
River, the largest such facilities in Belize, Central America. Energy
production was higher than the projected average at 180 GWh in 2009 compared to
192 GWh in 2008, when annual energy production hit a record high due to
above-average rainfall. The Belize Meteorological Office confirmed that the
flood-control features of the Chalillo facility significantly reduced the
impact on downstream communities of widespread flooding related to heavy
rainfall in July.
The US$53 million Vaca run-of-river hydroelectric facility, which is situated
approximately five kilometres downstream from Mollejon, is the final phase of
the three-phase hydroelectric development plan for the Macal River. BECOL sells
its entire output to Belize Electricity under 50 year power purchase
agreements.
In Ontario, non-regulated operations include six small hydroelectric generating
stations in eastern Ontario with a combined capacity of 8 MW and a 5-MW
gas-powered cogeneration plant in Cornwall. The electricity produced from these
facilities is sold in Ontario at market prices, with the exception of the
cogeneration plant in Cornwall. The 75 MW of water-right entitlement associated
with the Rankine hydroelectric generating station at Niagara Falls expired in
April at the end of a 100-year term.
The Exploits River Hydro Partnership (“Exploits Partnership”) is owned 51 per
cent by Fortis Generation and 49 per cent by AbitibiBowater Inc. (“Abitibi”).
The Exploits Partnership was established in 2001 and commenced operations in
2003 following the development of additional capacity at Abitibi’s two
hydroelectric generating plants in central Newfoundland. In December 2008, the
Government of Newfoundland and Labrador passed legislation expropriating most
of Abitibi’s assets in Newfoundland, including those assets associated with the
generation of electricity, some of which included the capital assets of the
Exploits Partnership. The Government of Newfoundland and Labrador has publicly
stated that it is not its intention to adversely affect the business interests
of lenders or independent partners of Abitibi in the province.
In British Columbia, the non-regulated generating asset is the 16-MW
run-of-river Walden hydroelectric generating plant near Lillooet, which was
acquired in May 2004 as part of the assets of FortisBC. The plant sells its
entire output to BC Hydro under a long-term contract.
In Upper New York State, the non-regulated generating assets are four
hydroelectric generating stations located in Moose River, Philadelphia,
Dolgeville and Diana. The plants have a combined capacity of approximately 23
MW. The average annual 85 GWh of energy output of these modern facilities is
sold at the wholesale level through a number of renewable contracts.
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