Growth strategy

Despite a challenging year, TransAlta executed on its strategy in 2009 in the following ways:

Improve base operations:

• Continued to contract cash flows through power purchase agreements (PPAs), including a new contract with the Ontario Power Authority for Sarnia power plant that extends to 2025
• Completed Unit 1 boiler modifications at Centralia
• Implemented productivity and cost reductions
• Revised our Alberta coal plants’ major maintenance schedule on a unit-by-unit basis to provide added lifecycle flexibility as it relates to environmental uncertainties

Reposition coal:

• Partnered with the federal and provincial governments to fund Project Pioneer, our carbon capture and storage demonstration project

Green our portfolio:

• Completed the 66 megawatt Blue Trail wind in 2010
• Accelerated the growth of our renewables portfolio with the acquisition of Canadian Hydro Developers (from 16 per cent in 2008 to 22 per cent in 2009)
• Approved the expansion of Kent Hills wind farm and construction of Bone Creek hydro facility
• Continued our work on the construction of our Ardenville and Summerview 2 wind farms
• Continued active involvement in environmental policy discussions with various levels of government in Canada and the United States