WOLFE ISLAND, ONTARIO — The Government of Canada today helped celebrate the second-largest wind power project in Canada, now delivering clean electricity at competitive prices for Ontarians.
Speaking at the official opening of the project today on behalf of the Honourable Lisa Raitt, Minister of Natural Resources, Gord Brown, Member of Parliament for Leeds–Grenville, announced that the Wolfe Island EcoPower® Centre will receive an investment of up to $59 million from the Government of Canada over the next 10 years through the ecoENERGY for Renewable Power program.
“By investing in clean energy projects, like the Wolfe Island Wind Project, the Government of Canada is helping to create jobs and stimulate the economy while helping to reduce the cost of clean energy for Ontarians,” said Mr. Brown. “Not only does this project promote sustainable energy for Ontario’s future, it will also improve our environment.”
The Wolfe Island EcoPower Centre has 86 turbines capable of generating close to 600 gigawatt hours of clean electricity a year, enough to supply as many as 50,000 homes. The project, on Wolfe Island in Lake Ontario near Kingston, is owned by Canadian Renewable Energy Corporation, a wholly owned subsidiary of Canadian Hydro Developers, Inc. The electricity generated is being sold to the Ontario Power Authority.
“Canadian Hydro is Canada’s largest and most diversified renewable energy company, with 21 operating facilities spread throughout B.C., Alberta, Ontario and Quebec,” said Kent Brown, Chief Executive Officer of Canadian Hydro Developers, Inc. “The strong support of the Government of Canada is important in helping our company identify good renewable energy prospects, work with our stakeholders and build sustainable operations, like the Wolfe Island EcoPower Centre, that will serve Canadians for generations.”
Wind power and other renewable energy sources are increasingly becoming part of Canada’s energy mix. In recognition of this success, last week Minister Raitt announced a series of national roundtables that mark the beginning of a new level of partnership. They will bring together all the key players and promote a new level of discussion and collaboration, not just between governments but with everyone who has a role in determining our energy future — industry, researchers, government and the financial community.
The $1.5-billion ecoENERGY for Renewable Power program provides a one cent per kilowatt-hour incentive, with the goal of increasing Canada’s renewable electricity capacity by about 4,000 megawatts — enough to power a million homes. Canada’s Economic Action Plan builds on this investment with an additional $2.4 billion to support the development and deployment of cleaner energy technologies and supporting infrastructure, including the $1-billion Clean Energy Fund and the $1-billion Green Infrastructure Fund.
FOR BROADCAST USE:
Gord Brown, Member of Parliament for Leeds–Grenville, speaking on behalf of the Natural Resources Minister Lisa Raitt, today announced that the Wolfe Island EcoPower Centre will receive an investment of up to $59 million from the Government of Canada over the next 10 years through the ecoENERGY for Renewable Power program.
Media may contact:
Jocelyne Turner
Press Secretary
Office of the Honourable Lisa Raitt
Ottawa
613-996-2007
Or
Media Relations
Natural Resources Canada
Ottawa
613-992-4447
The following media backgrounder is available at www.nrcan.gc.ca/media.
- ecoENERGY for Renewable Power
NRCan's news releases and backgrounders are available at www.nrcan.gc.ca/media.
