New Green Energy Projects Generate More Green Jobs

    TORONTO, Jan. 23 /CNW/ - The Ontario Power Authority (OPA) has awarded
long-term contracts for six green energy projects. These projects will help
create about 2,200 jobs and power a cleaner, greener, energy future for all
Ontarians.
    The six new wind power projects - three to be located in Chatham-Kent and
one each in Essex, Prince Edward County and Thunder Bay - will provide enough
electricity for more than 120,000 homes.
    "This is a major green economic initiative, one which will benefit all of
Ontario," said George Smitherman, Deputy Premier and Minister of Energy and
Infrastructure. "We are determined to maximize the development of the
province's green energy sources so we can not only clean up our air, but kick
start our economy, bringing new jobs and fresh sources of revenue to local
communities."Local economic benefits from the projects include:

    -   About 1,132 direct jobs
        -  Southern Ontario (Chatham-Kent and Essex): up to 716 jobs
        -  North-Western Ontario: 308 jobs
        -  South Eastern Ontario: 108 jobs
    -   About 1,090 indirect jobs (in the manufacturing of building materials
        and provision of services such as engineering design, legal,
        accounting and real estate)
    -   About $3 million in annual lease payments to hundreds of landowners
        who host wind turbines
    -   About $1 million in municipal tax revenues each yearAwarded through the Renewable Energy Supply III (RES III) program, the
six contracts will create 492.1 megawatts (MW) of new renewable generation.
The bidding process was triggered by a government directive to the OPA to
secure 500 MW of green energy supply. The projects' combined $1.32 billion in
capital costs will be financed privately.
    "The strength of the chosen projects shows that Ontario is an attractive
place to invest and the province is well on its way to maximizing its
potential for green, renewable power," said JoAnne Butler, OPA's Vice
President of Electricity Resources.
    Ontario is Canada's leader in wind power. In fact, Ontario's supply of
wind power has nearly doubled in the past year alone. Projects already in
operation from previous government-directed procurements include Canada's two
largest wind farms, the Melancthon EcoPower Centre near Shelburne and the
Prince Wind Farm near Sault Ste. Marie.
    These major green energy projects will help the province achieve its
commitment to eliminate dirty, coal-fired generation by 2014 and to maximize
the development of renewable energy. The new power sources will emit almost
zero greenhouse gases per megawatt hour compared to the almost 1,000 kilograms
per megawatt hour currently emitted by coal-fired plants.The six projects are expected to be in service by the end of 2012. The
contracts are for a 20-year term. The proponents are:

    Project Name: Kruger Energy Chatham Wind Project
    Proponent: Kruger Energy
    Location: Municipality of Chatham-Kent (Romney, Raleigh and Tilbury East)
    Capacity: 101.2 MW
    Contact: Jean Majeau, [phone]

    Project Name: Greenwich Windfarm
    Proponent: Renewable Energy Systems Canada
    Location: District of Thunder Bay near township of Dorion.
    Capacity: 99 MW
    Contact: Peter Clibbon, [phone], Cell. [phone]

    Project Name: Talbot Windfarm
    Proponent: Renewable Energy Systems Canada
    Location: Municipality of Chatham-Kent (Orford and Howard)
    Capacity: 99 MW
    Contact: Peter Clibbon, [phone], Cell. [phone]

    Project Name: Raleigh Wind Energy Centre
    Proponent: Raleigh Wind Power Partnership (Invenergy)
    Location: Municipality of Chatham-Kent (Raleigh and Tilbury East)
    Capacity: 78 MW
    Contact: Susan Dennison, [phone], Cell. 312-810-1063

    Project Name: Byran Wind Project
    Proponent: SkyPower Corp.
    Location: Prince Edward County
    Capacity: 64.5 MW
    Contact: Aaron Peters, [phone], Ext.3345, Cell. [phone]

    Project Name: Gosfield Wind Project
    Proponent: Gosfield Wind Limited Partnership (Brookfield)
    Location: Township of Kingsville, Essex County
    Capacity: 50.4 MW
    Contact: Denis Couture. [phone], Cell. [phone]The OPA is responsible for ensuring a reliable, sustainable supply of
electricity for Ontario. Its four key areas of focus are: Planning the power
system for the long term; leading and co-ordinating conservation initiatives
across the province; ensuring development of needed generation resources and
supporting the continued evolution of the electricity sector.Fact Sheet

    RES III Contract Announcement

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    -   Total investment by six successful projects: $1.32 billion

    -   Number of jobs created: About 2,200 direct and indirect jobs

    -   Annual combined lease payments to landowners hosting turbines:
        $3 million

    -   Total annual municipal tax revenues to host communities: $1 million

    -   Megawatts contracted through Renewable Energy Supply III (RES III):
        492 MW.

    Six successful proposals:

        Kruger Energy Chatham Wind Project, Kruger Energy, 101.2 MW
        Municipality of Chatham-Kent (Romney, Raleigh and Tilbury East)

        Greenwich Windfarm, Renewable Energy Systems Canada, 99 MW
        District of Thunder Bay near township of Dorion.

        Talbot Windfarm, Renewable Energy Systems Canada, 99 MW
        Municipality of Chatham-Kent (Orford and Howard)

        Raleigh Wind Energy Centre, Raleigh Wind Power Partnership
         (Invenergy), 78 MW
        Municipality of Chatham-Kent (Raleigh and Tilbury East)

        Byran Wind Project, SkyPower Corp., 64.5 MW
        Prince Edward County

        Gosfield Wind Project, Gosfield Wind Limited Partnership
         (Brookfield). 50.4 MW
        Township of Kingsville, Essex County

    -   Year when projects are obligated to be in service by: 2012. Term of
        RES III contract: 20 years.

    -   Contract evaluation stages: 1) completeness 2) fulfilment of
        mandatory requirements 3) rated criteria and 4) economic bid
        evaluation and selection.

    Ontario's Renewable Energy: By the Numbers

    -   Procurement programs now have approximately 1,000 megawatts of new
        renewable energy online since October 2003; Investments totalled
        $1.7 billion, and created more than 1,000 jobs.

    -   Ontario is Canada's leader in wind power; Canada's two largest wind
        farms are located here. More than 1,200 megawatts of capacity will be
        online in 2009, nearly doubling in one year. That's enough to power
        almost 325,000 homes.

    -   Ontario set records for wind and water power generation in 2008;
        25 per cent of Ontario's electricity generation came from renewable
        energy sources.

    -   Since 2003, wind capacity in Ontario has grown by more than 50-fold.

For further information: Media Contacts: Timothy Taylor, Ontario Power
Authority: [phone], Toll Free: 1-800-797-9604