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The Mohawk Point Wind Farm is located in Haldimand County, south of Lowbanks, Ontario, two hours southwest of Toronto. The Clear Creek Wind Farm is located in Norfolk County, west of the Town of Port Rowan, Ontario, along the shore of Lake Erie. Commissioning of the two 9.9 MW wind farms completes AIM’s 2008 build program under Ontario’s Renewable Energy Standard Offer Program and increases Ontario’s installed wind capacity to over 649 MW.
AIM PowerGen CEO Mike Crawley praised the work of the local community and local distribution companies in helping to get these projects built and commissioned. “These projects are among the first to be built under Ontario’s Standard Offer Program and among some of the first generation projects to be connected to a local distribution system. We really were breaking new ground. The support that we had from municipal staff, local Council, Haldimand Hydro and Hydro One was instrumental in getting these projects on-line and providing clean, renewable energy to the province.”
“We are proud that AIM PowerGen picked Norfolk County as the location for the Clear Creek Wind Farm,” said Dennis Travale, Mayor of Norfolk County. “This important investment, along with that made in the Frogmore and Cultus projects, not only has valuable spinoff benefits for the local community, but benefits all Ontarians by boosting our supply of clean power.”
 Construction of the Mohawk Point and Clear Creek projects began in the spring of 2008 and the projects achieved commercial operation on Oct 16, 2008 and November 22, 2008 respectively. All of the electricity and environmental attributes are sold to the Ontario Power Authority under 20-year Renewable Energy Standard Offer Program contracts (RESOP contracts). Annual average long-term generation from the Mohawk Point and Clear Creek Wind Farms is expected to supply enough to power approximately 6,000 average homes.
These are the last of four projects that AIM has commissioned in Ontario this year. The Frogmore and Cultus Wind Farms, also in Norfolk County, came online earlier this year.
AIM PowerGen Corporation (AIM) is a wind power developer, owner and operator based in Toronto, Ontario. AIM takes wind power projects from initial concept through testing and permitting to construction and operation. Founded in 2001, AIM has quickly grown to become one of Canada’s largest wind power developers. AIM is a subsidiary of REG Ltd. (Renewable Energy Generation) of the United Kingdom.
New Wind Projects Are Good News
Ontario takes another stride towards wind industry’s vision for wind energy to provide 20% of Canada’s electricity supply by 2025
The Canadian Wind Energy Association (Can-WEA) welcomed today’s announcement of longterm contracts for six new wind energy projects in Ontario totaling 492 MW by Ontario’s Minister of Energy and Infrastructure, the Hon. George Smitherman. Ontario is currently Canada’s wind leader with 782 MW of installed capacity, providing clean electricity for over 230,000 homes. With almost 400 MW of additional wind energy projects currently under construction in Ontario, today’s announcement of new projects means that Ontario is on track to put in place well over 1,500 MW of installed wind energy capacity. Canada’s total installed capacity today stands at 2,369 MW.
“Today’s announcement is further evidence of Ontario’s leadership in promoting and developing clean renewable energy,” said Robert Hornung, President of CanWEA. “We believe that wind energy represents a tremendous opportunity for Ontario and this announcement is timely in that it will help Ontario meet its future electricity needs while also supporting significant investment and job creation at a time when the province is seeking economic stimulus.”
Wind energy represents a major industrial development and economic stimulus opportunity for Canada. Between now and 2020 it is estimated that $1 trillion will be invested in new wind energy facilities worldwide and that more than 1.75 million jobs will be created in this rapidly growing industry.
“We look forward to further announcements of new procurement processes from the Government of Ontario that will continue the province’s momentum in growing wind and other renewables” said Hornung. CanWEA’s Wind Vision 2025 – Powering Canada’s Future, argues that Canada has the potential to make wind energy the country’s next great economic opportunity, while also reducing greenhouse gas emissions and addressing other environmental concerns. Achieving the goal of providing 20 per cent of the country’s electricity needs with wind energy by the year 2025 will result in $79 billion in new investment, the creation of up to 52,000 new “green collar”jobs, and more than $165 million in new revenues for municipalities, many in rural areas hit hard by traditional resource declines.
The Canadian Wind Energy association (Can-WEA) is a non-profit industry association representing more than 400 members in the wind energy industry. CanWEA promotes the responsible development and application of all aspects of wind energy in Canada, including the creation of a suitable policy environment.
12th country in the world to surpass 2,000 MW of installed wind energy capacity
The Canadian Wind Energy Association (Can-WEA) today announced Canada has officially become the 12th country in the world to surpass 2,000 MW of installed wind energy capacity. Wind currently supplies about 1 per cent of Canada’s electricity demand, with 85 wind farms representing approximately 2,246 MW of generating capacity producing enough power to meet the needs of 671,000 homes.
Global leaders in installed wind energy capacity include Germany at 23,300 MW; the U.S. at 20,413 MW; Spain at 15,900 MW; China at 9,000 MW; and India at 8,757 MW. Over the past ten years, global wind energy capacity has continued to grow at an average cumulative rate of over 32 per cent. Between now and 2020, close to $1 trillion (US) in global investment is projected to bring global installed capacity to well over 500,000 MW.
“Surpassing the 2,000 MW mark represents a significant milestone for the wind energy industry in Canada. We believe, however, that we have only scratched the surface in terms of the role wind energy can and must play in Canada’s clean energy future,” said Robert Hornung, President of CanWEA. “Achieving our industry goal of meeting 20 per cent of the country’s electricity needs with wind energy by the year 2025 will generate $79 billion (CDN) in new investments, create more than 52,000 new jobs, and provide economic development opportunities for rural communities throughout Canada.”
Wind Vision 2025 – Powering Canada’s Future, argues that Canada has the potential to make wind energy one of Canada’s next great economic opportunities, while also reducing greenhouse gas emissions and addressing other environmental concerns.
“In order for Canada to become a world leader in wind energy we need federal and provincial governments to play a strong leadership role in establishing a stable, long-term policy framework to support wind energy development going forward,” said Hornung. “Given the pressure on our current manufacturing sector, wind energy represents a tremendous opportunity that can help diversify and renew our industrial base.”
Ontario is the current provincial leader with installed wind energy capacity at 781 MW. Quebec follows at 531 MW; Alberta at 524 MW; Saskatchewan at 171 MW; Manitoba at 103 MW; Prince Edward Island at 72 MW; and Nova Scotia at 61 MW. Over the coming year it is anticipated that every province will be generating some electrical power from wind – and there is a clear consensus at all levels of government on the need to move towards a more sustainable electricity future.
CanWEA is the voice of the wind energy industry, actively promoting the responsible and sustainable growth of wind energy throughout Canada on behalf of its more than 400 members. A national nonprofit association, CanWEA serves as Canada’s leading source of credible information about wind energy and its social, economic and environmental benefits. To join other global leaders in the wind energy industry, CanWEA believe Canada can and must reach its target of producing 20 percent or more of the country’s electricity from wind by 2025. The document Wind Vision 2025 – Powering Canada’s Future is available at www.canwea.ca
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