Haida Nation makes huge wind-turbine investment
The Haida Nation has put up $800 million to buy up to a 40-per-cent stake in an energy company that plans to place wind turbines off the northern coast of British Columbia.
The agreement struck with NaiKun Wind Energy Group Inc. calls for the construction of 110 hydro-generating wind turbines in the Hecate Strait, about 100 kilometres from Prince Rupert, according to the company’s website.
The electricity generated by the turbines will be enough to power 130,000 homes, said Doug McClelland of NaiKun.
“It will connect to the mainland grid through a submarine cable that will run 95 kilometres underwater to connect to the grid in Prince Rupert,” McClelland told CBC News.
“Using today’s technology, the whole [Hecate Strait] area could provide enough power equivalent to half of what B.C. consumes today,” McClelland told CBC News.
“The wind is very, very strong and the wind peaks in the winter when BC Hydro needs it the most,” McLelland said.
McClelland says the investment will mean jobs and opportunity for Haida people.
“The level of unemployment up there is high. Opportunities are few and far between,” he said.
Completion of the deal requires loan guarantees from the federal government that have not yet been secured.
18 August 2009
Tags: Wind power, Wind energy
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