Town of the Blue Mountains, Ontario, November 25, 2004 – Ontario's Minister of Energy, Dwight Duncan, announced that Superior Wind Energy Inc. was one of the successful bidders in the government's 300 megawatt (MW) Request for Proposals for new renewable energy supply. Two of the company's proposals were selected by the Ontario government, both with 20-year power supply agreements: a 100 MW wind farm in Prince Township near Sault Ste. Marie and a 50 MW wind farm on rural lands in the Town of the Blue Mountains near Collingwood.
This competition is the first stage of the government's commitment to the development of 2,700 megawatts of new renewable energy by 2010.
The announcement by Minister Duncan is a key part of a long-term strategy that will help the government meet its energy supply and emission reduction objectives. Superior Wind's President, David Boileau welcomed the news. He said, “The public is demanding more clean electricity generation and the government has responded. Investing in the wind business makes sense for our company because wind energy is now the leading source of new, renewable energy. Wind is ‘out front' because of technical advances in turbine design, reliable turbine performance, advances in wind park siting and dramatic reductions in the price of turbine installations and maintenance. The cost of wind energy has dropped since 1990 and continues to fall. With this announcement we look forward to growing a strong and vibrant company that will deliver clean renewable energy for decades to come.”
The Blue Highlands Project
The construction of the 50 MW Blue Highlands (Phase 1) wind farm in the Town of the Blue Mountains is planned for 2006. The wind turbines will be erected on private land leased by the company.
The wind farm will not require the construction of a new transmission line. An existing transmission line, with sufficient capacity, transects the proposed wind farm area. Expected to reach full commercial operation before March 2007, the wind farm will make a significant contribution to Ontario's energy supply. On an annual basis, the wind farm will produce the same quantity of energy that is consumed by the 10,000 homes in the towns of the Blue Mountains and Grey Highlands.
Superior Wind is designing the wind farm layout to minimize visual impacts and is currently consulting with the community and project neighbors to identify alternatives for the optimal integration of the wind farm with local landscape. Following the consultation process, in January 2005, Superior Wind plans to present a detailed wind farm proposal to the community and the council of the Town of the Blue Mountains.
Superior Wind is continuing its ongoing work with federal and provincial governments, municipal councils, staff, planners and stakeholders to secure the permits and approvals required to advance the project to construction.
Superior Wind Energy
Superior Wind Energy is a Canadian company focused on the acquisition of productive wind lands and development of high value projects, through the application of advanced wind resource technologies. The company has acquired wind power lease options on over 34,000 acres of land in Ontario. Superior Wind has also initiated environmental impact assessments, permitting activities and public consultations for several of its other prospective developments in Ontario. F ounded in January 2002, Superior Wind Energy is a joint venture between Brascan Corporation (51%) and Harmony Wind Energy Inc. (49%). (See www.superiorwindenergy.com for more information). Harmony Wind Energy Inc. is a northwestern Ontario wind energy development firm owned by David Boileau.
Contact
David Boileau
Superior Wind Energy
Email: dboileau@superiorwindenergy.com