Japan - Toyota Tsusho establishes wind power generation company

Toyota Tsusho and the town of Oguni in Kumamoto prefecture have jointly established a wind power generation company. Capitalized at 10 million yen ($90 mil), Windtech Oguni will produce wind-generated electricity and sell it to Kyushu Electric Power.

The joint venture will invest 1.8 billion yen ($16 mil) to construct a power plant within the Aso-Kuju National Park in Aso County. Japan's first commercial-scale wind power plant that will have been constructed in the national park, the plant will generate 16 million kilowatts/hour of electricity annually, enough to supply electricity to 51,000 households. The new company will run the plant, handle sales, as well as operate a training center and accommodation facility that are concurrently built at the plant to help people learn about natural energy and environmental issues. Plant construction commences in October, and operation is scheduled to start in March 2007.