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Variable Interest Entities and Unconsolidated Investments | 9 Months Ended
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Sep. 30, 2012
Variable Interest Entities and Unconsolidated Investments [Abstract] |
Variable Interest Entities and Unconsolidated Investments | Variable Interest Entities and Unconsolidated Investments We consolidate all of our VIEs where we have determined that we are the primary beneficiary. There were no changes to our determination of whether we are the primary beneficiary of our VIEs for the nine months ended September 30, 2012. See Note 5 in our 2011 Form 10-K for further information regarding our VIEs. VIE Disclosures Our consolidated VIEs include natural gas-fired power plants with an aggregate capacity of 10,500 MW and 11,391 MW, at September 30, 2012 and December 31, 2011, respectively. For these VIEs, we may provide other operational and administrative support through various affiliate contractual arrangements among the VIEs, Calpine Corporation and its other wholly owned subsidiaries whereby we support the VIE through the reimbursement of costs and/or the purchase and sale of energy. In addition to amounts contractually required, Calpine Corporation provided support to these VIEs in the form of cash and other contributions of nil during each of the three and nine months ended September 30, 2012, and $15 million and $87 million during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2011, respectively. U.S. GAAP requires separate disclosure on the face of our Consolidated Condensed Balance Sheets of the significant assets of a consolidated VIE that can be used only to settle obligations of the consolidated VIE and the significant liabilities of a consolidated VIE for which creditors (or beneficial interest holders) do not have recourse to the general credit of the primary beneficiary. In determining which assets of our VIEs meet the separate disclosure criteria, we consider that this separate disclosure requirement is met where Calpine Corporation is substantially limited or prohibited from access to assets (primarily cash and cash equivalents, restricted cash and property, plant and equipment), and where our VIEs had project financing that prohibits the VIE from providing guarantees on the debt of others. In determining which liabilities of our VIEs meet the separate disclosure criteria, we consider that this separate disclosure requirement is met where there are agreements that prohibit the debt holders of the VIEs from recourse to the general credit of Calpine Corporation and where the amounts were material to our financial statements. Unconsolidated VIEs and Investments We have a 50% partnership interest in Greenfield LP and in Whitby. Greenfield LP and Whitby are also VIEs; however, we do not have the power to direct the most significant activities of these entities and therefore do not consolidate them. We account for these entities under the equity method of accounting and include our net equity interest in investments on our Consolidated Condensed Balance Sheets. At September 30, 2012 and December 31, 2011, our equity method investments included on our Consolidated Condensed Balance Sheets were comprised of the following (in millions):
| Ownership Interest as of September 30, 2012 |  | September 30, 2012 |  | December 31, 2011
Greenfield LP | 50% |  | $ | 70 |  |  | $ | 72 |
Whitby | 50% |  | 9 |  |  | 8 |
Total investments |  |  | $ | 79 |  |  | $ | 80 |
Our risk of loss related to our unconsolidated VIEs is limited to our investment balance. Holders of the debt of our unconsolidated investments do not have recourse to Calpine Corporation and its other subsidiaries; therefore, the debt of our unconsolidated investments is not reflected on our Consolidated Condensed Balance Sheets. At September 30, 2012 and December 31, 2011, equity method investee debt was approximately $460 million and $462 million, respectively, and based on our pro rata share of each of the investments, our share of such debt would be approximately $230 million and $231 million at September 30, 2012 and December 31, 2011, respectively. Our equity interest in the net income from Greenfield LP and Whitby for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2012 and 2011 is recorded in (income) from unconsolidated investments in power plants. The following table sets forth details of our (income) from unconsolidated investments in power plants for the periods indicated (in millions):
| Three Months Ended September 30, |  | Nine Months Ended September 30,
| 2012 |  | 2011 |  | 2012 |  | 2011
Greenfield LP | $ | (5 | ) |  | $ | (4 | ) |  | $ | (13 | ) |  | $ | (5 | )
Whitby | (2 | ) |  | (1 | ) |  | (8 | ) |  | (7 | )
Total | $ | (7 | ) |  | $ | (5 | ) |  | $ | (21 | ) |  | $ | (12 | )
Greenfield LP — Greenfield LP is a limited partnership between certain subsidiaries of ours and of Mitsui & Co., Ltd., which operates the Greenfield Energy Centre, a 1,038 MW natural gas-fired, combined-cycle power plant located in Ontario, Canada. We and Mitsui & Co., Ltd. each hold a 50% interest in Greenfield LP. Greenfield LP holds an 18-year term loan with an original principal amount of CAD $648 million. Borrowings under the project finance facility bear interest at Canadian LIBOR plus 1.125% or Canadian prime rate plus 0.125%. Distributions from Greenfield LP were $9 million and $18 million during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2012, respectively, and nil and $2 million during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2011, respectively. Whitby — Whitby is a limited partnership between certain subsidiaries of ours and Atlantic Packaging Ltd., which operates the Whitby facility, a 50 MW natural gas-fired, simple-cycle cogeneration power plant located in Ontario, Canada. We and Atlantic Packaging Ltd. each hold a 50% partnership interest in Whitby. Distributions from Whitby were nil and $7 million during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2012, respectively, and nil and $4 million during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2011, respectively. Inland Empire Energy Center Put and Call Options — We hold a call option to purchase the Inland Empire Energy Center (a 775 MW natural gas-fired power plant located in California which achieved COD on May 3, 2010) from GE that may be exercised between years 2017 and 2024. GE holds a put option whereby they can require us to purchase the power plant, if certain plant performance criteria are met by 2025. We determined that we are not the primary beneficiary of the Inland Empire power plant, and we do not consolidate it due to the fact that GE directs the most significant activities of the power plant including operations and maintenance.

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