WINNIPEG, Oct. 24, 2006 -- Canada NewsWire

 

Canada's wind energy industry contributed $736 million to Canada's Gross Domestic Product in 2005 according to estimates released today by the Canadian Wind Energy Association (CanWEA). It is also estimated that there were 1,200 full-time equivalent jobs (FTE) in the wind energy industry in 2005, an increase of 65% over 2004.

"It is clear that wind energy has begun to move from the margins to the mainstream of Canadian economic activity," says CanWEA Robert Hornung. "With provincial governments seeking a 10-fold increase in installed wind energy capacity in Canada over the next decade, we have only just begun to scratch the surface of wind energy's potential economic contribution to Canada."

It is estimated that Canadian wind energy industry revenues in 2005 were $548 million, a 100% increase over 2004 levels. Industry members project that wind energy industry revenues will again double in 2006. Expenditures in the industry are estimated at $482 million in 2005, a 22% increase over 2004. Direct employment in the industry is expected to increase to more than 5,000 FTE jobs over the next five years.

Wind energy is the fastest growing source of electricity in the world. In 2005, the wind energy industry was responsible for $US 14 billion in direct investment and directly employed more than 150,000 people. At the local level, wind farms also provide a new source of income for landowners and tax revenue stream for municipalities, in addition to generating tourism dollars "Wind energy represents a tremendous industrial development opportunity for Canada and we are now starting to see some of the potential benefits," says Robert Hornung.

CanWEA's second Annual Survey of the wind energy industry's economic contribution to Canada was conducted in 2006 by independent research firm Insightrix. More than 80% of CanWEA's 200 plus corporate members took part in the survey, the only means to date of assessing the economic impact of Canada's wind energy industry, such data not yet being collected by Statistics Canada.

CanWEA represents more than 250 companies involved in Canada's wind energy industry, including wind turbine and component manufacturers, wind energy project developers, electric utilities and service providers. The Annual CanWEA Conference and Tradeshow is being held in Winnipeg from October 22-25, bringing together more than 1,000 delegates, 130 exhibitors and over 100 speakers to address policy, technical and business issues related to wind energy.

The CanWEA Media Room, in the Presentation Theatre at the Winnipeg Convention Centre, will be staffed during the entire Conference.

SOURCE: CANADIAN WIND ENERGY ASSOCIATION

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