Canada - CanWEA applauds new processes to procure wind energy

The Canadian Wind Energy Association (CanWEA) has released a statement applauding the announcement to proceed with the procurement of 500 MW of new wind energy capacity in Quebec. The ceiling price will also be increased from C$0.095/kWh to C$0.12/kWh in the call for tenders for the purchase of two separate blocks of 250 MW of community and First Nations wind energy projects.

CanWEA and its membership had argued the original proposed pricing of C$0.95/kWh was not sufficient to attract or sustain long-term investment.

"This new procurement process and the revised pricing within it is timely news for both the wind energy industry in Quebec and the many communities that will benefit directly from local jobs and new investment within the current economic context," says Robert Hornung, president of CanWEA.

The Quebec Government anticipates that these two requests for proposals (RFP) will generate C$1.3 billion in investments and create more than 4,000 jobs, bringing both economic and social benefits to many regions of the province. The first wind energy projects procured through the RFPs are expected to be operational as early as 2012, putting Quebec on track to meet its target of developing 4,000 MW of wind energy by 2015.

For more information please contact Trevor Sievert at ts@windfair.net