NORWAY, PEI – The Government of Canada is investing in renewable energy projects across Prince Edward Island, thanks to investments in projects through the ecoENERGY for Renewable Power Program.
Mike Allen n, Member of Parliament for Tobique–Mactaquac, on behalf of the Honourable Gary Lunn, Minister of Natural Resources, today announced the first project at the Norway Wind Park, on the northwestern tip of Prince Edward Island. The Norway Wind Pa rk will benefit from an investment of up to $2.8 million over 10 years, thanks to the Government of Canada.
"We need energy to power our homes and our economy, and we need clean energy to protect our health and our environment," said MP A llen. "Our support for the Norway Wind Park is another solid example of our government's commitment to an aggressive but balanced approach to reducing emissions–increasing the supply of clean, renewable energy for Canadians, and accelerating th e development of a strong, competitive renewable energy industry."
Located on the northwest tip of Prince Edward Island near the village of Norway, the Norway Wind Park qualified for the one cent per kilowatt-hour incentive under the e coENERGY for Renewable Power Program. The wind park has three wind turbines in operation, providing 9 megawatts (MW) of clean renewable power capacity, enough to power more than 2,500 homes.
The Norway Wind Park is a project of SUEZ Ren ewable Energy NA and was completed in June 2007. The company is a major producer and developer of wind power in Canada, with three facilities totalling 208 MW in operation or construction and another 2,000 MW in development, including 200 MW that are i n late-stage development.
"GDF SUEZ has long been committed to developing alternative energy resources worldwide, and further wind farm development in Canada is a top priority for us," said Don Bartlett, regional vice president, business d evelopment for SUEZ Renewable Energy NA. "We are extremely grateful to the Government of Canada and ecoENERGY for Renewable Power for its generous support and for helping us make the Norway project a success."
Five renewable energy project s were also announced in British Columbia and Alberta under the ecoENERGY for Renewable programs.
Businesses, municipalities, institutions and organizations are eligible to apply for funding under ecoENERGY for Renewable Power. The program provides about $1.48 billion to increase Canada's supply of clean electricity from renewable sources such as wind, biomass, low-impact hydro, geothermal, solar photovoltaic and ocean energy. It will encourage the production of up to 4,000 megawatts o f new electricity from renewable energy sources–enough electricity to power about one million homes.
FOR BROADCAST USE:
The Government of Canada has announced that the Norway Wind Park will receive up to $ 2.8 million in funding over 10 years through the ecoENERGY for Renewable Power program.
Media may contact:
Jasmine MacDonnell
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister
Natural Resources Canada
Ottawa
613-996-2007
Julie Vitek
SUEZ Energy North America
(713) 636-1962
or
Media Relations
Natural Resources Canada
Ottawa
(613) 9 92-4447
The general public may contact:
Mon-Fri, 8:30-4:30 EDT
Telephone: 613-995-0947
TTY: 613-996-4397
(teletype for the hearing-impaired)
E-mail: questions@nrcan.gc.ca
NRCan's news releases and backgrounders are available at www.nrcan.gc.ca/media.
