July 6, 2007
Alberta
Alberta
A wind farm near Pincher Creek yesterday became the first company to receive funding under the feds’ ecoENERGY for Renewable Power initiative.
The Kettles Hill Wind Energy Project consists of 35 interconnected wind turbines that, in full operation, are expected to produce 200,000 megawatt hours of emissions-free power each year – enough to power more than 27,000 average Alberta homes.
Federal Natural Resources Minister Gary Lunn yesterday announced Creststreet Kettles Hill Windpower will receive $16.5 million in federal funding in a bid to increase Canada’s supply of clean, renewable energy.
“Canada is rapidly emerging as an energy superpower and the resources of this province are certainly a big reason I can say that,” said Lunn, who noted oil and gas account for 80% of Canada’s trade surplus, or about $86 billion in annual exports.
“It’s a tremendous advantage to be blessed with that kind of natural wealth but we also know it’s equally important that we use it wisely.”
Kettles Hill is just one of many renewable energy projects the federal government will support through ecoENERGY, which will see Ottawa invest more than $1.5 billion to meet the needs of three priority areas.
“We need to use technology to clean up our conventional energy, we need to put a lot more clean energy and renewable energy on the grid and we need to become more energy efficient,” explained Lunn.
Today, about 4% of Canada’s electricity supply comes from emerging renewable energy sources, with ecoENERGY anticipated to add enough clean renewable energy to power about one million homes.
In making the announcement, Lunn spoke about the importance of a balanced approach with respect to Canada’s economy and the environment.
“I don’t think you can talk about the environment without talking about the economy in the same sentence,” he said.
Creststreet is a leading developer and operator of renewable-energy projects across Canada.
In addition to Kettles Hill, Creststreet also operates the 54-MW Mount Copper wind project near Murdochville, Quebec, and the 30-MW Pubnico Point wind project located near Yarmouth, Nova Scotia.
By Shannon Woodward
Sun Media
6 July 2007
URL to article: https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2007/07/06/windfall-for-energy-farm-kettles-hill-project-to-get-165m-from-feds/