The Media Room

Natural Resources Canada

2010/44

June 25, 2010

Government of Canada Invests in
Wind Energy in Ontario

ESSEX, ONTARIO — At the official opening of the Harrow Wind Farm, Jeff Watson, Member of Parliament for Essex, today announced an investment of $11.2 million over ten years through the ecoENERGY for Renewable Power program. This project is not only helping enhance the production of cleaner energy but also increasing homeowner access to renewable energy sources.

“Our support for the Harrow Wind Farm project demonstrates the Government of Canada’s commitment to increasing the supply of clean, renewable energy to Canadians,” said Mr. Watson. “This project is an excellent example of a clean energy technology creating high-quality jobs and a sustainable energy source for Ontario’s future.”

The Harrow Wind Farm consists of 24 wind turbines with a total generating capacity of 39.6 MW. Electricity generated by the Harrow Wind Farm will be sold to the Ontario Power Authority and used by homeowners in Ontario.

“The federal government’s ecoENERGY program for renewable power was a critical element in making this project happen,” said Mike Crawley, President, International Power Canada.

The $1.5-billion ecoENERGY for Renewable Power program provides a one cent per kilowatt-hour incentive, with the goal of increasing Canada’s renewable electricity capacity by more than 4,000 megawatts — enough to power a million homes. Canada’s Economic Action Plan builds on this investment with an additional $2.4 billion to support the development and deployment of cleaner energy technologies and supporting infrastructure, including the Clean Energy Fund and the Green Infrastructure Fund.

FOR BROADCAST USE:

Ontario will soon be benefiting from Harrow Wind Farm’s new renewable energy technology, thanks to an investment by the Government of Canada. Essex MP Jeff Watson today announced that the wind farm in Essex in southwestern Ontario will receive up to $11.2 million over ten years through the ecoENERGY for Renewable Power program.

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