The Media Room

Natural Resources Canada

2010/59

July 28, 2010

Government of Canada Invests in Wind Energy in New Brunswick

BATHURST, NEW BRUNSWICK — Today, at the official dedication of the Caribou Wind Park, Tilly O’Neill-Gordon, Member of Parliament for Miramichi, announced an investment of up to $28.6 million over ten years in the Atlantic Canadian success story through the ecoENERGY for Renewable Power program.

“The Government of Canada’s support for the Caribou Wind Park is another example of our action to increase the supply of clean, renewable energy to Canadians,” said Ms. O’Neill-Gordon. “This project is an innovative example of a clean energy technology that is helping to create high-quality jobs and a sustainable energy source for New Brunswick’s future.”

The Caribou Wind Park, operated by GDF SUEZ Energy North America, consists of 33 wind turbines with a total generating capacity of 99 megawatts, which equates to two percent of the province’s electricity generation capacity. This park is GDF SUEZ’s first power-generation project in the province.

“Now in our third wind-facility partnership with ecoENERGY, it is clear that industry and government working together is not only valuable but necessary for the success of building new energy projects, especially those in the renewables sector,” said Paul Cavicchi, Executive Vice-President of Business Development for GDF SUEZ Energy North America. “We are pleased to have invested in the Maritimes through goods and services and hundreds of jobs, and we look forward to a long-term commitment in the region.”

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:

New Brunswick will soon be benefiting from a new source of renewable energy thanks to an investment by the Government of Canada. MP O’Neill-Gordon today announced that the Caribou Wind Park near Bathurst will receive up to $28.6 million over ten years through the ecoENERGY for Renewable Power program.

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