Corporate Responsibility Report 2013

Environmental Indicators

Tracking diligently

Ozone-depleting substances

No ozone-depleting substances were released in 2013.

Hazardous waste

We did not transport hazardous waste in 2013.

Clean air alliance

We are participating with industry, government and, non-government organizations in the five-year review of the Clean Air Strategic Alliance Alberta Electricity Framework.

Environmental compliance

Capital Power recorded a total of 18 environmental incidents in 2013, a reduction of 57% from the 42 incidents reported in 2012. Four of the 18 incidents had no environmental impact and the remaining incidents were minor in nature. Two Notice of Violations were issued to Roxboro in 2013. Neither of the incidents resulted in a fine or penalty. All incidents were reported to the regulators and closed with no further action required.

A Provincial Officer’s Order was issued to the Port Dover and Nanticoke Wind site due to a technical discrepancy modelled from the substation transformer during the Renewable Energy Approval (REA) process in 2012. All conditions were met by the required dates specified in the Provincial Officer’s Order.

The continued reduction of environmental incident rates is due to the strong emphasis Capital Power’s Environmental management systems place on continuous improvement and learning from past incidents. Prompt and transparent reporting of all incidents, regardless of their magnitude, heightens employee awareness and attitudes, which drives performance and environmental responsibility in the workplace.

Capital Power’s 142 MW, Quality Wind facility located near Tumbler Ridge, British Columbia began commercial operation on November 6, 2012, on time and under budget.

Reportable Environmental Incidents

 
  2011 2012 2013
Regulatory Infraction - Reporting1 2 4 1
Regulatory Infraction - Air Release2 20 22 9
Regulatory Infraction – Permit3 18 10 3
Public Complaint4 0 3 1
Spill to land or water 1 3 4
Fish and Wildlife Infraction 0 0 0
TOTAL 41 42 185

1Incidents that are administrative in nature such as unauthorized late report submissions, lapsed certifications, or failures to report.

2Regulatory Infraction – Air Release are incidents which contravene a regulation or other applicable law, a site permit/licence, or site operating approval specifically to air emissions (i.e. opacity, NOx, CO2, SO2).

3Regulatory Infraction – Permit are incidents which contravene a regulation or other applicable law, a site permit/licence, or site operating approval (i.e. exceed temperature, Total Suspended Solids (TSS), pH limit, or failure to collect required samples.)

4 Public Complaint incidents are those which are attributable to Capital Power operations.

5 Five incidents occurred at the New England facilities in 2013. Due to the divestiture of the New England facilities, these five incidents were removed from the incident total.

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