v2.4.0.6
Long-term debt (Details)
12 Months Ended 1 Months Ended 12 Months Ended 12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2012
USD ($)
project
Dec. 31, 2011
USD ($)
Dec. 31, 2012
Curtis Palmer
USD ($)
Dec. 31, 2011
Curtis Palmer
USD ($)
Dec. 31, 2012
Epsilon Power Partners
Dec. 31, 2012
Chambers Project [Member]
quarter
Dec. 31, 2012
Delta
quarter
Dec. 31, 2012
Gregory Project [Member]
Dec. 31, 2011
Purchase accounting fair value adjustments
USD ($)
Dec. 31, 2012
Minimum
Dec. 31, 2012
Maximum
Nov. 30, 2011
Senior unsecured notes, due 2018
USD ($)
Dec. 31, 2012
Senior unsecured notes, due 2018
USD ($)
Dec. 31, 2011
Senior unsecured notes, due 2018
USD ($)
Nov. 05, 2011
Senior unsecured notes, due 2018
USD ($)
Dec. 31, 2012
Senior unsecured notes, due June 2036
USD ($)
Dec. 31, 2012
Senior unsecured notes, due June 2036
CAD
Dec. 31, 2011
Senior unsecured notes, due June 2036
USD ($)
Dec. 31, 2012
Senior unsecured notes, due July 2014
USD ($)
Dec. 31, 2011
Senior unsecured notes, due July 2014
USD ($)
Dec. 31, 2012
Senior unsecured notes, due July 2014
Curtis Palmer
USD ($)
Dec. 31, 2012
Series A senior unsecured notes, due August 2015
USD ($)
Dec. 31, 2011
Series A senior unsecured notes, due August 2015
USD ($)
Dec. 31, 2012
Series B senior unsecured notes, due August 2017
USD ($)
Dec. 31, 2011
Series B senior unsecured notes, due August 2017
USD ($)
Dec. 31, 2012
Epsilon Power Partners term facility, due 2019
USD ($)
Dec. 31, 2011
Epsilon Power Partners term facility, due 2019
USD ($)
Dec. 31, 2012
Auburndale term loan, due 2013
Dec. 31, 2011
Auburndale term loan, due 2013
USD ($)
Dec. 31, 2012
Cadillac term loan, due 2025
USD ($)
Dec. 31, 2011
Cadillac term loan, due 2025
USD ($)
Dec. 31, 2012
Cadillac term loan, due 2025
Minimum
Dec. 31, 2012
Cadillac term loan, due 2025
Maximum
Dec. 31, 2012
Piedmont bridge loan, due 2013
USD ($)
Dec. 31, 2011
Piedmont bridge loan, due 2013
USD ($)
Dec. 31, 2012
Path 15 senior secured bonds
USD ($)
Dec. 31, 2011
Path 15 senior secured bonds
USD ($)
Dec. 31, 2012
Path 15 senior secured bonds
Purchase accounting fair value adjustments
USD ($)
Dec. 31, 2012
Path 15 senior secured bonds
Minimum
Dec. 31, 2012
Path 15 senior secured bonds
Maximum
Dec. 31, 2012
5.87% senior guaranteed notes, Series A, due August 15, 2017
Dec. 31, 2012
5.97% senior guaranteed notes, Series B, due August 15, 2019
Dec. 31, 2012
Senior credit facility
USD ($)
Dec. 31, 2012
Senior credit facility
Minimum
Dec. 31, 2012
Senior credit facility
Maximum
Dec. 31, 2012
Senior unsecured notes, due August 2019
USD ($)
Dec. 31, 2012
Meadow Creek construction loan, due 2013
USD ($)
Dec. 31, 2012
Meadow Creek construction loan, due 2013
Minimum
Dec. 31, 2012
Meadow Creek construction loan, due 2013
Maximum
Dec. 31, 2012
Construction term loan
USD ($)
Dec. 31, 2012
Cash grant loan
USD ($)
Dec. 31, 2012
Rockland term loan, due 2031
USD ($)
Dec. 31, 2012
Ridgeline working capital loan
USD ($)
Dec. 31, 2012
Ridgeline working capital loan
Minimum
Dec. 31, 2012
Ridgeline working capital loan
Maximum
Long-term debt                                                                                                              
Total debt $ 1,580,341,000               $ 10,580,000       $ 460,000,000 $ 460,000,000 $ 460,000,000 $ 211,071,000 210,000,000 $ 206,490,000 $ 190,000,000 $ 190,000,000 $ 190,000,000 $ 150,000,000 $ 150,000,000 $ 75,000,000 $ 75,000,000 $ 33,482,000 $ 34,982,000   $ 11,900,000 $ 37,831,000 $ 40,231,000     $ 127,446,000 $ 100,796,000   $ 145,879,000 $ 9,900,000               $ 75,000,000 $ 208,698,000         $ 86,560,000 $ 253,000    
Less current maturities (121,203,000) (20,958,000)                                               3,000,000 1,500,000   7,000,000 2,400,000 3,791,000     55,061,000   9,400,000 8,667,000                   (59,508,000)                
Total long-term debt 1,459,138,000 1,404,900,000 190,000,000 190,000,000                                                               128,000,000                                      
Interest rate (as a percent)                         9.00%   9.00% 5.95% 5.95%   5.90%             7.40%   5.10%       6.02% 8.00%           7.90% 9.00% 5.87% 5.97%           1.31% 5.08%     6.40%   5.50% 5.90%
Percentage of ownership interest         100.00% 40.00%       5.00% 50.00%                                                                                        
Variable interest rate basis                                                                   Libor                 U.S. Prime Rate, the London Interbank Offered Rate or the Canadian Prime Rate                        
Amount drawn on the senior credit facility                                                                                     67,000,000                        
Letters of credit issued but not drawn                                                                                     112,900,000                        
Applicable margin (as a percent)                                                                   3.50%                 2.75% 0.75% 3.00%                    
Bridge loan                                                                   51,000,000                                          
Number of days of commercial operation after stimulus grant is expected to be received                                                                   60 days                                          
Construction loan                                                                   82,000,000                               152,200,000 56,500,000        
Percentage of par value at which debt was issued                             97.471%                                                                                
Gross proceeds from senior notes                       448,000,000                                                                                      
Number of projects not in compliance with covenants contained in project level debt 1                                                                                                            
Number of quarters used in calculating the debt service coverage ratio           4 4                                                                                                
Period of historical project cash flows used to calculate debt service coverage ratio               6 months                                                                                              
Period of projected project cash flows used to calculate debt service coverage ratio               6 months                                                                                              
Maximum borrowing capacity before amendment                                                                                     100,000,000                        
Maximum borrowing capacity                                                                                     300,000,000                        
Maximum capacity to be utilized for letter of credit                                                                                     200,000,000                        
Debt to EBITDA ratio, restriction on payment of dividend to shareholders                                                                                     7.25                        
Principal payments on the maturities of debt due in next five years                                                                                                              
2013 121,203,000                                                                                                            
2014 207,845,000                                                                                                            
2015 170,473,000                                                                                                            
2016 19,138,000                                                                                                            
2017 94,954,000                                                                                                            
Thereafter 966,728,000                                                                                                            
Total debt $ 1,580,341,000               $ 10,580,000       $ 460,000,000 $ 460,000,000 $ 460,000,000 $ 211,071,000 210,000,000 $ 206,490,000 $ 190,000,000 $ 190,000,000 $ 190,000,000 $ 150,000,000 $ 150,000,000 $ 75,000,000 $ 75,000,000 $ 33,482,000 $ 34,982,000   $ 11,900,000 $ 37,831,000 $ 40,231,000     $ 127,446,000 $ 100,796,000   $ 145,879,000 $ 9,900,000               $ 75,000,000 $ 208,698,000         $ 86,560,000 $ 253,000