CALPINE CORPORATION
                              Employment Agreement

     This  Employment  Agreement  (this  'Agreement')  has  been  entered  into,
effective  as of  August  1,  1999,  between  CALPINE  CORPORATION,  a  Delaware
corporation (the 'Company'),  and Ann B. Curtis ('Executive') to provide for the
employment of Executive on the terms and conditions set forth herein.

     WHEREAS,  Executive  has  served  as  Executive  Vice  President  and Chief
Financial Officer of the Company since August 1998; and

     WHEREAS,  the Company  wishes to assure itself of the continued  employment
efforts of Executive for the period provided in this Agreement, and Executive is
willing to continue  to serve in the employ of the Company on a full-time  basis
for said period upon the terms and conditions hereinafter provided.

     NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual agreements herein contained,
intending to be legally bound, the Company and Executive agree as follows:

     1.  Definitions.  The  capitalized  terms in this Agreement  shall have the
meanings set forth in this Agreement or in Appendix A hereto.

     2. Employment.  The Company hereby employs Executive,  and Executive hereby
accepts such  employment by the Company,  upon the terms and  conditions  herein
provided.

     3. Term of Employment.  Executive's employment with the Company pursuant to
this Agreement shall commence on August 1, 1999 and shall continue  through July
31, 2004, unless such employment is sooner  terminated or subsequently  extended
as  hereinafter  provided.  The  Company and  Executive  may agree to extend the
Employment  Period beyond the initial term upon the terms and conditions of this
Agreement  or upon other terms,  but neither the Company nor  Executive is under
any  obligation  to do so. The period during which this  Agreement  continues in
effect shall constitute the 'Employment Period'.

4.   Positions and Responsibilities.

          (a) Position.  During the Employment Period,  Executive shall serve as
     the Company's  Executive  Vice  President and Chief  Financial  Officer and
     shall be  responsible  for leading the Company's  business  management  and
     regional affairs, reporting to the President and Chief Executive Officer of
     the Company (CEO).

          (b) Duties.  During the Employment  Period, and subject to the control
     of the CEO,  Executive  shall  have  general  executive  powers  and active
     management  and  supervision  over all  business  management  and  regional
     affairs  of the  Company  and shall  perform  such other  executive  and/or
     administrative   duties  consistent  with  the  office  of  Executive  Vice
     President and Chief Financial  Officer as from time to time may be assigned
     to Executive by the CEO, but subject to the  conditions in this  Agreement.
     Executive  shall devote  substantially  Executive's  full business time and
     attention to, and exert  Executive's  best efforts in, the  performance  of
     Executive's duties hereunder, so as to promote the business of the Company.
     Executive  agrees that,  during  Executive's  employment  with the Company,
     Executive will not provide consulting services to or become an employee of,
     any other firm or person engaged in a business in any way competitive  with
     the Company.

                                       1


     5.  Compensation.  For all services rendered by Executive  pursuant to this
Agreement,  the Company shall pay Executive, and Executive agrees to accept, the
salary, bonuses and other benefits described below in this Section 5.

          (a) Salary.  The  Company  shall pay  Executive  an annual base salary
     ('Base Salary') as determined by the CEO in accordance with this Section 5,
     payable at periodic  intervals in  accordance  with the  Company's  payroll
     practices  for  salaried  employees.  Executive's  Base  Salary  as of  the
     effective date hereof is three hundred thousand dollars  ($300,000.00)  per
     annum.  In  accordance  with Section  5(c)  hereof,  the amount of the Base
     Salary shall be reviewed by the CEO and approved by the Board of Directors,
     if  required,  on at least  an  annual  basis,  and any  increases  will be
     effective as of the date  determined  appropriate  by the CEO.  Executive's
     Base Salary may be increased for any reason, including to reflect inflation
     or  such  other  adjustments  as the CEO may  deem  appropriate;  provided,
     however,  that  Executive's  Base Salary,  as currently in effect as stated
     above or as so increased,  may not be subsequently  decreased,  except with
     the prior written consent of Executive.

          (b) Bonuses.  In addition to Base Salary,  Executive shall be entitled
     to receive,  for each fiscal year of the Company  ending with or within the
     Employment Period, an annual bonus ('Bonus'),  whether pursuant to a formal
     bonus or incentive plan or program of the Company. or otherwise. Subject to
     this Section  5(b) and Section  5(c)  hereof,  such Bonus shall be based on
     such criteria as are in good faith deemed appropriate by the CEO. Any Bonus
     earned by Executive for service or performance  rendered in any fiscal year
     within the Employment  Period shall be paid to Executive in accordance with
     the applicable  plan or program and the Company's  policies  governing such
     matters.  For the year ending  December  31, 1999 and for all future  years
     hereunder,  Executive  shall be  entitled to  participate  in and receive a
     Bonus  in  accordance  with  the  terms  and  conditions  set  forth in the
     Company's  Annual  Management  Incentive Plan provided,  however,  that the
     target bonus for  Executive as set forth in the current  Annual  Management
     Incentive  Plan shall be sixty percent  (60%).  In the event of Executive's
     death or Disability during the Employment  Period, the Company shall pay to
     Executive  or  Executive's  estate  the pro rata  portion of the Bonus that
     Executive  would have earned in respect of the portion of the year prior to
     Executive's death or Disability.

          (c) Annual Compensation Review. Notwithstanding anything herein to the
     contrary,  Executive's compensation,  consisting of salary, bonus and stock
     option grants, shall be reviewed annually by the CEO.

          (d) Life Insurance.  During the Employment  Period,  the Company shall
     provide to Executive a life insurance  policy in accordance  with the terms
     of the current policy  maintained by the Company for Executive,  as further
     described in Section 8(b).



                                       2


          (e) Health Care.  During the  Employment  Period,  Executive  shall be
     eligible to participate in any health insurance  programs and medical plans
     available to officers or employees of the Company.

          (f) Participation in Benefit and Equity Compensation Plans. During the
     Employment  Period,  Executive  shall be eligible to receive all  benefits,
     including those under equity participation and bonus programs, to which key
     employees  are or become  eligible  under such plans or  programs as may be
     established  by the  Company.  In  addition  to any other plans or programs
     established by the Company,  Executive  shall be entitled to participate in
     the Company's 1996 Stock Incentive Plan and any similar or replacement plan
     or program (the 'Stock Option Program').

          (g) 401(k) Plan  Benefits.  In addition to the other benefits to which
     Executive  shall be entitled to under this  Agreement,  Executive  shall be
     entitled to participate in the Company's  401(k) Plan and shall be entitled
     to receive the full benefit of  contributions to be made by the Company for
     the benefit of Executive under the terms of the 401(k) Plan.

     6. Vacation.  During the Employment Period,  Executive shall be entitled to
vacation  in  accordance  with the  Company's  Vacation  Policy  in  effect  for
executives. In no event shall such entitlement be less than twenty (20) business
days in each year,  with full salary.  Furthermore,  Executive shall accrue paid
vacation  benefits during the Employment Period in accordance with the Company's
Vacation Policy in effect for executives.

     7.  Indemnification.  The Company shall indemnify Executive pursuant to the
provisions of the Company's  Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws to the fullest
extent  of  California  law and all other  applicable  law,  and  shall  provide
Executive   with   indemnification    pursuant   to   the   Company's   standard
indemnification  agreement and any director's and officer's  liability insurance
policy maintained by the Company.

     8. Benefits Payable Upon Disability or Death.

          (a) Disability Benefits.  In the event of the Disability of Executive,
     the Company shall continue to pay Executive the salary payable to Executive
     in  accordance  with  Section 5 hereof  during  the  period of  Executive's
     Disability;  provided,  however,  that,  in the  event  that  Executive  is
     disabled for a continuous  period  exceeding six (6) calendar  months,  the
     Company  may  elect at the  expiration  of this  six (6)  month  period  to
     terminate this  Agreement and pay Executive the greater of  (i) Executive's
     available  monthly benefits from any existing  Company-sponsored  long-term
     disability  plan; or (ii) sixty seven percent (67%) of the salary  provided
     in Section 5(a) for the duration of the Employment Period.

          (b)  Death  Benefits.   In  the  event  of  Executive's  death  during
     Executive's  Disability  or otherwise  during the  Employment  Period,  the
     Company  shall  cause  payment  to be made  to  Executive's  most  recently
     designated beneficiary (which, absent specific designation of a beneficiary
     for  purposes  of  this  provision,  shall  be  Executive's  most  recently
     designated  beneficiary under the Company's group life insurance program) a
     sum equal to three (3) times  Executive's  Base Salary.  This obligation of
     the Company shall be  discharged  to the extent  benefits are actually paid
     pursuant to the Company's group life insurance program, with the balance of
     said obligation to be discharged either by a cash payment from the Company,
     or, if the Company so elects, by supplementary  life insurance  policies to
     be obtained and maintained by the Company.



                                       3


     9. Severance Benefits.

          (a)  Termination of Employment.  In the event  Executive's  employment
     terminates for any reason, except as provided in Section 9(b) in connection
     with a Change of  Control,  then  Executive  shall be  entitled  to receive
     severance benefits as follows:

               (i) Voluntary  Resignation.  If Executive's employment terminates
          by reason of Executive's  voluntary  resignation (and such termination
          is not an Involuntary  Termination or a termination  for Cause),  then
          Executive shall not be entitled to receive severance or other benefits
          except for those (if any) to which  Executive  may be  entitled  under
          this  Agreement or any separate  agreement  with the Company or as may
          then be established  under the Company's  then existing  severance and
          benefit plans and policies at the time of such termination.

               (ii) Involuntary Termination Other Than For Cause. If Executive's
          employment  is terminated  as a result of an  Involuntary  Termination
          other than for Cause, then the following  severance  benefits shall be
          paid or otherwise provided to Executive:  (A) the Company shall pay to
          Executive  in the form of a lump sum  payment,  in cash,  a  severance
          payment  equal to the lesser of (I) three (3) times  Executive's  Base
          Salary  or  (II) Executive's  Base  Salary  multiplied  by the  sum of
          (x) the number of years (or any portion thereof, calculated on a daily
          basis)  remaining under this Agreement had Executive's  employment not
          been terminated,  plus (y) an additional one-half year, however, in no
          event  shall such  payment  equal less than 100% of  Executive's  Base
          Salary,  which shall be paid to  Executive  within ten (10) days after
          the date of  termination;  (B) until the earlier of (I) the  date this
          Agreement would  otherwise have terminated had Executive's  employment
          not been terminated  (the 'Remaining  Term') or (II) the expiration of
          the  three  (3) year  period  measured  from  the date of  Executive's
          termination  of  employment.  The  Company  shall at its sole cost and
          expense provide  Executive (and Executive's  eligible  dependents,  if
          any)  with  life,   disability,   and   medical   insurance   benefits
          substantially   similar  to  those   benefits  that   Executive   (and
          Executive's   dependents)   were   receiving   immediately   prior  to
          Executive's  termination of employment;  provided,  however,  that the
          benefits  otherwise  receivable by Executive  pursuant to this Section
          9(a)(ii)(B)  shall be reduced to the extent  comparable  benefits  are
          concurrently   received  by  Executive  (or  Executive's   dependents)
          pursuant  to a similar  plan or program of another  employer,  and any
          such other  benefits  actually  received by Executive (or  Executive's
          dependents)  must be reported to the Company;  and  provided  further,
          however,  that the insurance coverage provided by the Company pursuant
          to this Section  9(a)(ii)(B)  shall be in lieu of any other  continued
          coverage to which Executive or Executive's dependents would otherwise,
          at  Executive's  own  expense,  be  entitled  in  accordance  with the
          requirements  of Internal  Revenue Code of 1986, as amended  ('Code'),
          Section  4980B  ('COBRA'),  by reason of  Executive's  termination  of
          employment;  (C) all stock options, warrants, rights and other Company
          stock-related  awards  granted to  Executive by the Company that would
          otherwise have vested or become  exercisable at any time in the future
          shall  become  fully  vested  and  nonforfeitable  upon  the  date  of
          Executive's  termination  of  employment,   the  Company's  repurchase
          rights,  if any, with respect to those vested shares shall immediately
          lapse, and each such stock option, to the extent vested,  shall remain
          exercisable  for the vested  option  shares  until the  expiration  or
          sooner   termination  of  the  option  term  in  accordance  with  the
          provisions  of the  agreement  evidencing  such  option;  and  (D) the
          Company  shall pay or  reimburse  Executive  for any and all  expenses
          incurred  by  Executive  for  outplacement  services  selected  by the
          Executive  and approved by the  Company,  which  approval  will not be
          unreasonably withheld,  until the earlier of (I) the first anniversary
          of the date of  termination  of  employment  or (II) the date on which
          Executive commences employment with another employer.



                                       4


               (iii)  Termination  for  Cause.  If  Executive's   employment  is
          terminated for Cause,  then Executive shall not be entitled to receive
          any  severance   payments  or  other  severance  benefits  under  this
          Section 9.  Executive's benefits will be continued under the Company's
          then existing benefit plans and policies in accordance with such plans
          and policies in effect on the date of  termination  and in  accordance
          with the requirements of COBRA.

          (b)  Termination  As a Result of a Change of Control.  If  Executive's
     employment  with the  Company  is  terminated  as a result  of a Change  of
     Control then Executive shall be entitled to receive  severance  benefits as
     follows:

               (i) Voluntary Resignation. If as a result of a Change of Control,
          Executive's  Base Salary is reduced  within  twelve (12) months of the
          Change of Control  and,  or,  Executive's  position is  relocated to a
          place more than one hundred (100) miles from the  Executive's  current
          place of  employment  within six (6) months of the Change of  Control,
          and as a result of these changes Executive's  employment terminates by
          reason  of  voluntary  resignation  (and  such  termination  is not an
          Involuntary   Termination  or  a  Termination  for  Cause),  then  the
          following  severance  benefits shall be paid or otherwise  provided to
          Executive:  (A) the Company  shall pay to  Executive  in the form of a
          lump sum payment,  in cash, a severance payment equal to the lesser of
          (I) two (2) times  Executive's  Base Salary or  (II) Executive's  Base
          Salary  multiplied  by the sum of  (x) the  number  of  years  (or any
          portion  thereof,  calculated on a daily basis)  remaining  under this
          Agreement had Executive's employment not been terminated,  plus (y) an
          additional  one-half  year,  however,  in no event shall such  payment
          equal less than 100% of Executive's  Base Salary,  which shall be paid
          to Executive  within ten (10) days after the date of termination;  (B)
          until the earlier of (I) the date this Agreement  would otherwise have
          terminated  had  Executive's   employment  not  been  terminated  (the
          'Remaining  Term') or (II) the expiration of the three (3) year period
          measured from the date of Executive's  termination of employment.  The
          Company  shall at its sole cost and  expense  provide  Executive  (and
          Executive's  eligible  dependents,  if any) with life,  disability and
          medical  insurance  benefits  substantially  similar to those benefits
          that Executive (and Executive's dependents) were receiving immediately
          prior to Executive's  termination of  employment;  provided,  however,
          that the benefits  otherwise  receivable by Executive pursuant to this
          subsection  9(b)(i)(B)  shall  be  reduced  to the  extent  comparable
          benefits  are  concurrently  received  by  Executive  (or  Executive's
          dependents) pursuant to a similar plan or program of another employer,
          and any  such  other  benefits  actually  received  by  Executive  (or
          Executive's  dependents) must be reported to the Company; and provided
          further,  however, that the insurance coverage provided by the Company
          pursuant  to this  Section  9(b)(i)(B)  shall be in lieu of any  other
          continued coverage to which Executive or Executive's  dependents would
          otherwise, at Executive's own expense, be entitled accordance with the
          requirements  of  COBRA  by  reason  of  Executive's   termination  of
          employment;  and (C) all stock  options,  warrants,  rights  and other
          Company  stock-related awards granted to Executive by the Company that
          would  otherwise have vested or become  exercisable at any time in the
          future shall become fully vested and  nonforfeitable  upon the date of
          Executive's  termination  of  employment,   the  Company's  repurchase
          rights,  if any, with respect to those vested shares shall immediately
          lapse, and each such stock option, to the extent vested,  shall remain
          exercisable  for the vested  option  shares  until the  expiration  or
          sooner   termination  of  the  option  term  in  accordance  with  the
          provisions of the agreement evidencing such option.



                                       5


               (ii) Involuntary Termination Other Than For Cause. If as a result
          of a Change of Control  and within  twelve  (12) months of a Change of
          Control  Executive's  employment  is  terminated  as a  result  of  an
          Involuntary  Termination  other than for Cause, then the Company shall
          pay or otherwise provide to Executive the severance benefits described
          in Section 9(a)(ii) hereof.

               (iii)  Termination  for  Cause.  If  Executive's   employment  is
          terminated for Cause,  then Executive shall not be entitled to receive
          any  severance   payments  or  other  severance  benefits  under  this
          Section 9.  Executive's benefits will be continued under the Company's
          then existing benefit plans and policies in accordance with such plans
          and policies in effect on the date of termination.

               (iv) Involuntary Termination Other Than For Cause. If as a result
          of a Change of Control  and within  twelve  (12) months of a Change of
          Control  Executive's  employment  is  terminated  as a  result  of  an
          Involuntary  Termination  other than for Cause, then the Company shall
          pay or otherwise provide to Executive the severance benefits described
          in Section 9(a)(ii) hereof.

          (c) Parachute  Payments.  If all or any portion of the amounts payable
     to Executive  under this  Agreement or otherwise  are subject to the excise
     tax imposed by Section 4999 of the  Internal  Revenue Code (the 'Code') (or
     similar  state tax and/or  assessment),  Company  shall pay to Executive an
     amount  necessary  to place  Executive  in the same after tax  position  as
     Executive  would  have been in had no such  excise  tax been  imposed.  The
     amount payable pursuant to the preceding sentence shall be increased to the
     extent  necessary to pay income and excise  taxes due on such  amount.  The
     determination of the amount of any such additional  amount shall be made by
     the independent accounting firm then employed by the Company.

     10.  Nondisclosure  of Proprietary  Information  and Company  Documents and
Materials.

          (a) Executive  understands that the Company possesses and will possess
     Proprietary Information which is important to its business. All Proprietary
     Information  is and shall be the sole  property of the  Company.  Executive
     understands   that  Executive's   employment   creates  a  relationship  of
     confidence  and trust  between the Company and  Executive  with  respect to
     Proprietary  Information.  At all times, both during Executive's employment
     by  the  Company  and  after  its  termination,  Executive  shall  keep  in
     confidence  and  trust  and  will  not  use  or  disclose  any  Proprietary
     Information or anything relating to it without the prior written consent of
     the  President,  except  as may be  necessary  in the  ordinary  course  of
     performing Executive's duties to the Company.

          (b) Executive  understands that the Company  possesses or will possess
     Company  Documents and Materials  which are important to its business.  All
     Company  Documents  and Materials are and shall be the sole property of the
     Company.  Executive  agrees  that  during  Executive's  employment  by  the
     Company, Executive will not remove any Company Documents and Materials from
     the business  premises of the Company or deliver any Company  Documents and
     Materials to any person or entity outside the Company,  except as Executive
     is required to do in connection  with  performing the duties of Executive's
     employment.  Executive  agrees that,  immediately  upon the  termination of
     Executive's  employment  by Executive or by the Company for any reason,  or
     during  Executive's  employment  if so requested by the Company,  Executive
     will return all Company Documents and Materials,  apparatus,  equipment and
     other physical  property,  or any reproduction of such property,  excepting
     only (i)  Executive's  personal  copies of records  relating to Executive's
     compensation;  (ii) Executive's personal copies of any materials previously
     distributed generally to stockholders of the Company; and (iii) Executive's
     copy of this Agreement.



                                       6


     11.  Non-Solicitation  of  Company  Employees.  During  the  term  of  this
Agreement  and for a period of twelve  (12)  months  thereafter,  the  Executive
agrees to not  encourage  or solicit  any  employee  of the Company to leave the
Company for any reason or to accept  employment with any other company.  As part
of this restriction,  the Executive agrees to not interview or provide any input
to any third  party  regarding  any such person  during the period in  question.
However,  this obligation shall not affect any  responsibility the Executive has
with respect to the bona fide hiring and firing of Calpine personnel.

     12.  Consulting.  Executive  and the Company  may, but are not required to,
enter into an agreement  pursuant to which  Executive  will  provide  consulting
services to the Company after the date of Executive's retirement or termination.
Any  consulting  fees paid to Executive will be in addition to any retirement or
severance payments.

     13.  Failure to Comply.  If, for any reason other than  Executive's  death,
Disability or Involuntary Termination,  Executive shall cease to render services
as required by this Agreement without the written consent of the Company,  or if
Executive  shall  breach the  provisions  of  Sections 10  or 11  hereof,  then,
Executive  will  thereby  relinquish  all  rights  to  any  benefits  hereunder,
including  future  salary  payments and death  benefits,  and the Company  shall
reserve  whatever  rights,  if any,  it may have  against  Executive  under this
Agreement or otherwise.

     14.  Successors.  Any successor to the Company  (whether direct or indirect
and whether by purchase, lease, merger, consolidation, liquidation or otherwise)
or to all or  substantially  all of the Company's  business  and/or assets shall
assume the  obligations  under this Agreement and shall perform the  obligations
under this  Agreement  in the same  manner and to the same extent as the Company
would be required to perform such  obligations  in the absence of a  succession.
The terms of this Agreement and all of Executive's  rights hereunder shall inure
to the  benefit  of,  and be  enforceable  by,  Executive's  personal  or  legal
representatives,  executors,  administrators,  successors,  heirs, distributees,
devisees and legatees.

     15.  Notice.  Notices  and all other  communications  contemplated  by this
Agreement  shall be in writing  and shall be deemed to have been duly given when
personally delivered or when mailed by U.S. registered or certified mail, return
receipt  requested and postage  prepaid.  Mailed  notices to Executive  shall be
addressed to Executive at the home address from which  Executive  most  recently
communicated  to the  Company in  writing.  In the case of the  Company,  mailed
notices shall be addressed to its corporate  headquarters,  and all notice shall
be directed to the attention of its Secretary.



                                       7


     16. Miscellaneous Provisions.

          (a) No Duty to Mitigate.  Executive  shall not be required to mitigate
     the  amount of any  payment  contemplated  by this  Agreement  (whether  by
     seeking new employment or in any other manner),  nor shall any such payment
     be reduced by earnings that Executive may receive from any other source.

          (b) Waiver.  No provision of this Agreement shall be modified,  waived
     or discharged unless the modification,  waiver or discharge is agreed to in
     writing  and  signed  by  Executive  and  by  an   authorized   officer  or
     representative  of the Company (other than Executive).  No waiver by either
     party of any breach of, or of compliance  with,  any condition or provision
     of this  Agreement  by the other party shall be  considered a waiver of any
     other  condition  or  provision  or of the same  condition  or provision of
     another time.

          (c) Whole Agreement. No agreements,  representations or understandings
     (whether  oral or written  and whether  express or  implied)  which are not
     expressly  set forth in this  Agreement  have been made or entered  into by
     either party with respect to the subject matter hereof.

          (d) Choice of Law.  The  validity,  interpretation,  construction  and
     performance of this Agreement shall be governed by the laws of the State of
     California.

          (e)  Severability.  If any term or provision of this  Agreement or the
     application  thereof to any circumstance  shall, in any jurisdiction and to
     any extent,  be invalid or  unenforceable,  such term or provision shall be
     ineffective  as to such  jurisdiction  to the extent of such  invalidity of
     unenforceability   without  invalidating  or  rendering  unenforceable  the
     remaining terms and provisions of this Agreement or the application of such
     terms and  provisions to  circumstances  other than those as to which it is
     held  invalid  or  unenforceable,  and a  suitable  and  equitable  term or
     provision  shall be  substituted  therefor to carry out,  insofar as may be
     valid  and   enforceable,   the  intent  and  purpose  of  the  invalid  or
     unenforceable term or provision.

          (f)  Arbitration.  Any  dispute  or  controversy  arising  under or in
     connection  with this Agreement may be settled by arbitration in the County
     of San Francisco,  California, in accordance with the rules of the American
     Arbitration  Association then in effect. Such arbitration proceedings shall
     be nonbinding and any claim with respect to this Agreement,  whether or not
     previously the subject of an arbitration proceeding,  may be brought in any
     court of competent jurisdiction.

          (g)  Employment  Taxes.  All payments made pursuant to this  Agreement
     will be subject to withholding of applicable income and employment taxes.



                                       8


          (h)  Assignment  by Company.  The Company may assign its rights  under
     this  Agreement to an  affiliate,  and an  affiliate  may assign its rights
     under  this  Agreement  to  another  affiliate  of the  Company;  provided,
     however,  that if there is any such assignment,  the Company will guarantee
     all payments and the performance of all  obligations  under this Agreement.
     In the  case of any such  assignment,  the term  'Company'  when  used in a
     section of this Agreement  shall mean the  corporation or other entity that
     actually employs Executive.

          (i) Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in counterparts, each
     of which  shall be  deemed  an  original,  but all of which  together  will
     constitute one and the same instrument.

          16. Entire Agreement.  This Agreement constitutes the entire agreement
     between the Company and the Executive as of the date hereof and  supersedes
     any prior understandings,  agreements, or representations by or between the
     Company and the  Executive,  written or oral,  to the extent that they have
     related in any way to the subject matter hereof.

          IN WITNESS  WHEREOF,  the parties  hereto have executed this Agreement
     this day and year first above written.

CALPINE CORPORATION:                     EXECUTIVE:



By: /s/ Peter Cartwright                 /s/ Ann B. Curtis
    -----------------------------        -----------------------------
    Peter Cartwright, President,         Ann B. Curtis
    Chief Executive Officer and          Executive Vice President and
    Chairman of the Board                Chief Financial Officer



                                       9



                                   APPENDIX A

                                  Definitions


     Cause. 'Cause' shall mean (i) material breach of any material terms of this
Agreement,   (ii) conviction   of  a  felony,   (iii) repeated   unexplained  or
unjustified absence, (iv) willful breach of fiduciary duty under this Agreement,
or  (v) failure   to  meet  the  Company's   standards  of  competence  and  job
performance.

     Change of Control.  'Change of Control' shall mean the occurrence of any of
the following events:

          (i) a change in ownership or control of the Company  effected  through
     either of the following transactions:

               (A) any  'person'  (as such  term is used in  Sections  13(d) and
          14(d)  of  the  Securities  Exchange  Act of  1934,  as  amended  (the
          'Exchange Act')),  other than the Company's  current  stockholder or a
          trustee  or other  fiduciary  holding  securities  under  an  employee
          benefit  plan of the  Company or any  corporation  owned,  directly or
          indirectly,  by the Company's  stockholders in substantially  the same
          proportions  as their  ownership of the Company's  stock,  becomes the
          'beneficial  owner' (as defined in Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act),
          directly or  indirectly,  of  securities  of the Company  representing
          fifty percent (50%) or more of the total combined  voting power of the
          Company's then outstanding securities pursuant to a tender or exchange
          offer made directly to the Company's stockholders which the Board does
          not recommend such stockholders to accept; or

               (B) a change in the  composition  of the  Board  over a period of
          thirty-six (36)  consecutive  months or less such that the majority of
          the members of the Board ceases to be comprised of individuals who are
          Continuing Members; for such purpose, a 'Continuing Member' shall mean
          an  individual  who is a  member  of the  Board  on the  date  of this
          Agreement and any  successor of a Continuing  Member who is elected to
          the Board or  nominated  for such  election by action of a majority of
          Continuing Members then serving on the Board; or

          (ii)  either of the  following  stockholder-approved  transactions  to
     which the Company is a party:

               (A) a merger  or  consolidation  of the  Company  with any  other
          corporation,  other than a merger or consolidation  which would result
          in the voting securities of the Company outstanding  immediately prior
          thereto continuing to represent (either by remaining outstanding or by
          being  converted  into voting  securities of the surviving  entity) at
          least fifty percent (50%) of the total voting power represented by the
          voting securities of the Company or such surviving entity  outstanding
          immediately after such merger or consolidation; or



                                       10


               (B) the sale, transfer or complete  liquidation or dissolution of
          the Company of all or substantially all of the Company's assets.

     Company  Documents and Materials.  'Company  Documents and Materials' shall
mean  documents  or  other  media or  tangible  items  that  contain  or  embody
Proprietary  Information  or any  other  information  concerning  the  business,
operations or plans of the Company, whether such documents,  media or items have
been prepared by Executive or others.

     Disability.  'Disability'  shall mean the inability of Executive to perform
all the material duties of Executive's  position as determined by an independent
physician selected with the approval of the Company and Executive.

     Involuntary Termination.  'Involuntary  Termination' shall mean termination
by the Company of  Executive's  employment  for any reason other than for Cause,
and shall include Executive's  voluntary  resignation following (i) the material
breach by the  Company of one or more of its  obligations  under this  Agreement
which are not otherwise  corrected  within ten (10) days  following  Executive's
written  notice to the Company of such breach,  or the  Executive's  annual base
salary is materially reduced.

     Proprietary Information.  'Proprietary  Information' shall mean information
that was developed,  created,  or discovered by or on behalf of the Company,  or
which  became or will become  known by, or was or is  conveyed  to the  Company,
which has commercial value in the Company's business; including, but not limited
to, trade  secrets,  designs,  technology,  know-how,  processes,  data,  ideas,
techniques,  inventions  (whether  patentable  or  not),  works  of  authorship,
formulas,  business and development plans, customer lists, software programs and
subroutines,  source and object  code,  algorithms,  terms of  compensation  and
performance  levels of Company employees,  and other information  concerning the
Company's actual or anticipated business,  research or development,  or which is
received in confidence by or for the Company from any other person.

                                       11