Atlantic Power Corporation Announces Public Offerings of Common Stock and Unsecured Convertible Debentures

BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS--(Marketwire - Oct. 12, 2010) - Atlantic Power Corporation (TSX:ATP)(TSX:ATP.DB)(TSX:ATP.DB.A)(NYSE:AT) (the "Company") announced today that it has previously filed a base PREP prospectus in each of the provinces and territories of Canada, except Quebec, and a Form S-1 Registration Statement in the U.S. in connection with a proposed underwritten public offering (the "Common Share Offering") of 5,100,000 common shares of the Company (the "Common Shares"). The Company intends to grant the underwriters a 30-day option to purchase up to 765,000 additional shares of its Common Shares to cover over-allotments, if any. BMO Capital Markets and UBS Securities LLC are serving as joint book-running managers of the Common Share Offering.

The Company also announced today that it has previously filed an amended preliminary prospectus in each of the provinces and territories of Canada, except Quebec, with respect to a proposed public offering in Canada of Cdn$70 million aggregate principal amount of convertible unsecured subordinated debentures (the "Debentures") at a public offering price of Cdn$1,000 per debenture (the "Debenture Offering" and, together with the Common Stock Offering, the "Offerings"). The Company intends to grant the underwriters a 30-day option to purchase up to Cdn$10.5 million aggregate principal amount of debentures at the issue price to cover over-allotments, if any. BMO Capital Markets is acting as sole book-runner with respect to the Debenture Offering.

The Company intends to use the net proceeds from these offerings as follows: (i) approximately $20 million to repay indebtedness incurred under its credit facility entered into in June 2010 to partially fund its previously-announced acquisition of a 27.6% equity interest in Idaho Wind Partners 1, LLC, and (ii) up to $75 million to fund an investment in the Piedmont Green Power biomass project in Barnesville, Georgia for substantially all of the equity interest in the project. Any remaining net proceeds will be used to fund additional growth opportunities and for general corporate purposes, including a potential further acquisition that the Company is currently considering.

Copies of the preliminary prospectus relating to the proposed Common Share Offering may be obtained for free by visiting the EDGAR database on the SEC's web site at www.sec.gov or from UBS Securities LLC, Attn: Prospectus Department, 299 Park Avenue, New York, New York 10171, or by calling 1-(888) 827-7275. Copies of the preliminary prospectuses related to the proposed Offerings may be obtained from Investor Relations at BMO Capital Markets, Distribution Department, 1 First Canadian Place, B2 Level, Toronto, Ontario, M5X 1H3 (telephone: 416-363-6996 x224).

Registration statements relating to the Offerings have been filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission but have not yet become effective. These securities may not be sold nor may offers to buy be accepted in the United States prior to the time the registration statements become effective and in Canada prior to the time that receipts are obtained in Canada for the final prospectuses. Before investing, investors should read the prospectuses contained in the registration statements and other documents the Company has filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission in the United States and the Canadian Securities Regulators in Canada, for more complete information about the Company and the Offerings. The Offerings are being made solely by means of the prospectuses.

This press release does not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy securities and shall not constitute an offer, solicitation or sale in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale is unlawful.

About Atlantic Power

Atlantic Power Corporation is an independent power producer with power projects located in major markets in the United States. The Company's assets consist of interests in 12 operational power generation projects across eight states, one wind project under construction in Idaho, a 500 kilovolt 84-mile electric transmission line located in California, and six development projects in five states. The Company's power generation projects in operation have an aggregate gross electric generation capacity of approximately 1,823 megawatts (or "MW"), in which the Company's ownership interest is approximately 808 MW. For more information, please visit the Company's website at www.atlanticpower.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

This news release may include forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties. These statements, which are based on certain assumptions and describe Atlantic Power's future plans, projections, strategies and expectations, can generally be identified by the use of the words "outlook," "objective," "may," "will," "should," "could," "would," "plan," "potential," "estimate," "project," "continue," "believe," "intend," "anticipate," "expect," "target" or the negatives of these words and phrases or similar expressions that are predictions of or indicate future events or trends and which do not relate solely to present or historical matters. In particular, Atlantic Power's intention to complete the offerings and use the proceeds therefrom as described above constitute forward-looking statements. Such forward-looking statements reflect Atlantic Power's current expectations regarding future events and speak only as of the date of this news release. Such forward-looking statements are based on a number of assumptions which may prove to be incorrect. The completion of the offerings will be subject to market conditions and the successful pricing of the offerings and the intended use of proceeds from the offerings may change from that described herein. Forward-looking statements involve significant risks and uncertainties, should not be read as guarantees of future performance or results, and will not necessarily be accurate indications of whether or not or the times at or by which such performance or results will be achieved. A number of factors could cause actual results to differ materially from the results discussed in the forward-looking statements, including, but not limited to, the factors discussed under "Risk factors" in Atlantic Power's Annual Information Form dated March 29, 2010 and Atlantic Power's registration statement on Form 10, as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, on July 21, 2010, the relevant sections of which have been incorporated by reference into the Canadian prospectuses and Atlantic Power's Registration Statement on Form S-1. Atlantic Power's business is both competitive and subject to various risks. Although the forward-looking statements contained in this news release are based upon what Atlantic Power's believes to be reasonable assumptions, investors cannot be assured that actual results will be consistent with these forward-looking statements, and the differences may be material. Therefore, investors are urged not to place undue reliance on Atlantic Power's forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are made as of the date of this news release and, except as expressly required by applicable law, Atlantic Power assumes no obligation to update or revise them to reflect new events or circumstances.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT:
        Atlantic Power Corporation
        Patrick Welch
        Chief Financial Officer
        (617) 977-2700
        info@atlanticpower.com

Source: Atlantic Power Corporation
Contact: Atlantic Power Corporation Patrick Welch Chief Financial Officer (617) 977-2700 info@atlanticpower.com