"Two years ago, Ontario only had 15 megawatts of wind power capacity. The
McGuinty government has set the wheels in motion to bring online over 1300
megawatts [MW] of wind power capacity by the end of 2007, an 80-fold
increase," said Energy Minister Donna Cansfield. "The government is
continuing to deliver on its promise to support renewable energy as part
of its overall plan to build a sustainable energy future for Ontario."
This first phase of the Melancthon I Wind Farm, located in Melancthon
Township near Shelburne, is expected to provide enough power for 25,000
homes annually. Phase II of the project will provide an additional 132 MW
of power, or enough to power 40,000 homes.
The startup of the Melancthon wind farm is one of several wind energy
milestones occurring across the province. EPCOR's Kingsbridge I is a 39.6
MW Wind Power Project near Goderich that has 21 of 22 turbines in place,
six of which are online and producing power. In addition, the Clean Power
Fund's 99 MW Erie Shores Wind Farm is nearly half completed on the north
shore of Lake Erie where 27 of the project's 66 turbines have been
erected.
These three wind farms are some of the 18 new, renewable energy projects
the province has supported to date. Combined, these will help Ontario
reach its goal of generating five percent of its electricity capacity
through renewable generation by 2007 and ten percent by 2010.
"We have achieved commercial operation ahead of schedule," said John
Keating, Chief Executive Officer, Canadian Hydro Developers Inc., about
Melancthon I. In his March 21, 2006 statement on the website, Keating
wrote, "It takes teamwork and combined passion, commitment, resources, and
above all, perseverance from an extended team of stakeholders to move
low-impact renewable energy projects forward from concept to completion.
These "team players" include Canadian Hydro employees and directors,
landowners, the surrounding community, consulting engineers, local
contractors, equipment suppliers, as well as ongoing support from the
federal, provincial and municipal governments."
The value of the area contracts from more than 25 area companies that were
employed getting Melancthon I under way, and referred to as "notable
milestones" by Keating, exceeded $15 million. He added that the annual
average long-term generation is expected to be approximately 195 gigawatt
hour (GWh).
"With the Melancthon I Wind Plant now in operation we are continuing to
advance the planning and permitting aspects of the Melancthon II Wind
Project," Keating concluded.
