BOSTON, Dec. 15, 2011 /CNW/ - Atlantic Power Corporation (TSX: ATP) (NYSE: AT) (the "Company") today announced its distribution for the month of December 2011.  A dividend of Cdn$0.09583 per common share will be payable on January 31, 2012 to holders of record at the close of business on December 30, 2011.

Tax Information for Shareholders

Atlantic Power Corporation designates this dividend to be an "eligible dividend" pursuant to subsection 89(14) of the Income Tax Act (Canada) and its equivalent in any provinces of Canada. 

U.S. individual or other non-corporate taxpayers should be eligible for the reduced rate of tax currently applicable to "qualified dividends" provided that the investor meets the holding period and any other requirements. 

The Company's common share dividend is subject to a 15% withholding tax for U.S. holders.  U.S. individuals holding shares in taxable accounts may be eligible to receive a credit on their U.S. income tax return for this withholding tax.  U.S. individuals holding the Company's common shares in Individual Retirement Accounts ("IRAs") may be exempt from withholding tax pursuant to the Canada – U.S. Income Tax Convention. 

Taxpayers should always seek their own independent qualified professionals regarding the tax consequences of purchasing or owning common shares of the Company.  Individuals who believe the withholding tax exemption applies to their IRA should contact their broker to determine how to claim the exemption.

About Atlantic Power
Atlantic Power is a leading publicly traded, power generation and infrastructure company with a well diversified portfolio of assets in the United States and Canada. Our power generation projects sell electricity to utilities and other large commercial customers under long-term power purchase agreements, which seek to minimize exposure to changes in commodity prices.  The net generating capacity of the Company's projects is approximately 2,116 MW, consisting of interests in 30 operational power generation projects across 11 states and 2 provinces, one 53 MW biomass project under construction in Georgia, and an 84-mile, 500 kilovolt electric transmission line located in California. Atlantic Power also owns a majority interest in Rollcast Energy, a biomass power plant developer with several projects under development.  Atlantic Power is incorporated in British Columbia, headquartered in Boston and has offices in Chicago, Toronto, and Richmond, B.C. 

Our corporate strategy is to generate stable cash flows from our existing assets and to make accretive acquisitions to sustain our dividend payout to shareholders, which is currently paid monthly at an annual rate of Cdn$1.15 per share.  

Atlantic Power has a market capitalization of approximately $1.5 billion and trades on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol AT and on the Toronto Stock Exchange under the symbol ATP.  For more information, please visit the Company's website at www.atlanticpower.com or contact:

Atlantic Power Corporation 
Amanda Wagemaker, Investor Relations
(617) 977-2700 
info@atlanticpower.com

Copies of financial data and other publicly filed documents are filed on SEDAR at www.sedar.com or on EDGAR at www.sec.gov/edgar.shtml under "Atlantic Power Corporation" or on the Company's website.

SOURCE Atlantic Power Corporation