Today, the proposed next-generation Tenaska Trailblazer Energy Center, to be located East of Sweetwater, moved one important step closer to reality. The Nolan County Commissioners Court unanimously granted a property tax abatement.

The commissioners established the Nolan County Trailblazer Energy Center Reinvestment Zone and approved a 10-year, 75 percent tax abatement beginning in 2016, the plant’s first full year of commercial operation after its projected completion in 2015.

The tax abatement, which is consistent with other abatements granted in Texas to encourage industrial development, is an important factor in Tenaska’s evaluation of the financial viability of the project. Tenaska will weigh the county’s support, along with other financial factors, to determine whether construction of the project can proceed in 2011.

Under agreement with the Commissioners Court, the Trailblazer Energy Center will pay 100 percent of its county tax obligation during the construction period. Using current law and the current tax rates, payments made during the five-year construction period could total as much as $24 million. During the abatement period, the plant will provide up to $2 million in county taxes annually, based on current tax rates and under current law.

The agreement also provides that Tenaska will use reasonable efforts to maximize use of Nolan County businesses in construction, operation and maintenance of Trailblazer, and will require its construction contractor to designate a coordinator of local services.

As the Nolan County Commissioners Court prepared to consider Tenaska’s tax abatement request, Tenaska was pleased to receive support from the city of Sweetwater, the Sweetwater Enterprise for Economic Development (SEED), Sweetwater Chamber of Commerce, Sweetwater Industrial Foundation, and the citizens of Nolan County, and more than 700 area residents who endorsed the project.

Some of the next steps in development will include selecting an engineering, procurement and construction (“EPC”) contractor, seeking necessary federal and state incentives, securing a transmission interconnection agreement with the Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT), and obtaining customers for the electricity produced and CO₂ captured by the plant.

More information about the Tenaska Trailblazer Energy Center and illustrations for press use may be obtained at www.tenaskatrailblazer.com.

2010 Entries July 2010 • Sweetwater Residents Attend Open House • Tenaska Chooses Fluor Carbon Capture Technology • Tenaska Again Ranked Among Best in Controlling Emissions April 2010 • Tenaska Trailblazer Energy Center Makes Significant Advances • EDF Agrees Not to Oppose Trailblazer Energy Center Based on Tenaska Environmental and Water Commitments • Tenaska to Use Water-Conserving Technology at Trailblazer Energy Center March 2010 • Tenaska, Arch Coal Team Up on Trailblazer Energy Center January 2010 • Tenaska Optimistic at 2009 Progress on Trailblazer Energy Center, Moves Forward 2009 Entries October 2009 • State Office of Administrative Hearings Holds Preliminary Hearing on Tenaska Trailblazer Energy Center Air Quality Permit September 2009 • Air Quality Permitting Process Proceeds for Trailblazer Energy Center June 2009 • Trailblazer Energy Center Boosted By New Incentives May 2009 • Tenaska Representative Updates Sweetwater Rotary Club March 2009 • Tenaska Testifies on Texas Incentives for Carbon Capture Projects • BBC to feature Sweetwater, Trailblazer in News Series • TCEQ Holds Public Meeting in Sweetwater January 2009 • Trailblazer Energy Center Granted Tax Abatement 2008 Entries December 2008 • Sweetwater Industrial Foundation Urges Passage of Tenaska Abatement • Sweetwater City Commission Passes Resolution Supporting Trailblazer • SEED Board Supports Tenaska s Tax Abatement • Nolan County Commissioners Consider Property Tax Abatement • Study: Tenaska Trailblazer to Bring Economic Boost November 2008 • Tenaska Updates Congressman on Trailblazer Energy Center • Tenaska Featured at Sweetwater Shriners Meeting October 2008 • Tenaska Vice President Brings Trailblazer Project to Life for Texas Legislators • Texas Energy Companies Learn About Trailblazer Energy Center at Clean Carbon Summit • Trailblazer Project to Have No Negative Impact on West Texas Transmission Capability • Sweetwater Residents Welcome Tenaska at Sweetwater Chamber Banquet, Ask Questions September 2008 • Tenaska Purchases 505 Acres for Access to Proposed Trailblazer Site August 2008 • Tenaska Tests Soil at Trailblazer Site • Tenaska is Invested in Trailblazer Energy Center • Tenaska Developers Study Carbon Capture Technology in Japan July 2008 • Tenaska Establishes Community Relations Office • Tenaska Vice President Testifies Before Texas Senate Committee • Tenaska Sees Positive Responses to CO2 Open Season June 2008 • Sweetwater and Nolan County Officials Tour Trailblazer Site • Tenaska First in U.S. to Hold Bids for Coal Plant Carbon Dioxide • Tenaska Vice President Testifies Before Congress on Trailblazer May 2008 • Hold on to those resumes • ERCOT balances electric transmission needs in West Texas • Tenaska again ranks at the top of NRDC Benchmarking Emissions Study • Trailblazer Energy Center: An environmental leader April 2008 • Harris joins as Community Representative • Tenaska mentioned in Houston Chronicle editorial • Tenaska starts informational advertising series • Project development leader answers questions in Sweetwater March 2008 • Newspaper editorial praises Trailblazer Energy Center project • Project engineers explain project to their professional peers • Application for Permit Has Been Filed February 2008 • Tenaska Trailblazer Energy Center Announced

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