Under the terms of the Transaction Agreement, International Power Canada, Inc. will become the majority owner of Phase 1 of the Knob Hill Wind Farm development. Specific terms of the Transaction Agreement remain confidential at this time. Additional information will be released at a later date.
The Knob Hill Wind Farm is located 35 km northwest of Port Hardy on northern Vancouver Island, within the traditional territories of the Quatsino, Tlatlasikwala, and Kwakiutl First Nations. Phase 1 of the wind power project is projected to generate sufficient renewable power to provide for the annual electricity needs of approximately 100,000 British Columbians.
On March 31, 2010, the Project was offered a 20 year "Electricity Purchase Agreement" ("EPA") by British Columbia Hydro and Power Authority ("BC Hydro" – an electric utility wholly owned by the Province of British Columbia) with respect to the energy output of 99 MW of new wind turbines generation.
Construction on Knob Hill Wind Farm’s Phase 1 is expected to begin in 2011, with a target date for delivery of electric power in late 2012.
The Transaction Agreement with International Power Canada, Inc. provides an option for Sea Breeze and the three First Nations to purchase equity positions in the project. Sea Breeze would also receive a developer’s fee and an ongoing revenue royalty for the duration of the EPA. An Impact Benefits Agreement with the three First Nations is progressing through negotiation.
"We are extremely pleased that International Power Canada, Inc. has chosen to invest in the Knob Hill Wind Farm," said Paul Manson, President and CEO of Sea Breeze. "The wind industry is a rapidly growing business globally. We see this as a very positive vote of confidence by one of the world’s leading power generation companies for the future of British Columbia’s renewable energy industry."
The Project has received strong support from the Quatsino, Tlatlasikwala, and Kwakiutl First Nations as well as the communities of Port Hardy, Port McNeill, and the Regional District of Mount Waddington.
The Knob Hill Wind Farm was the first wind power energy to receive an Environmental Assessment Certificate within British Columbia. Upon completion of construction, it will be the first operating power generation facility initiated by Sea Breeze, whose development team is presently investigating an additional 180,000 hectares for wind power development throughout British Columbia.
International Power Canada, Inc. (formerly AIM PowerGen Corporation) is a wind power developer, owner and operator based in Toronto, Ontario. International Power Canada, Inc. is a wholly owned subsidiary of International Power PLC, a leading independent electricity generating company with 32,398 MW gross (20,711 MW net) in operation and 4,527 MW gross (1,412 MW net) under construction. International Power is listed on the London Stock Exchange with ticker symbol "IPR".
Sea Breeze Power Corp. is a Vancouver, Canada based renewable energy company focused on unlocking British Columbia’s vast but ‘stranded’ renewable energy potential. Sea Breeze is presently engaged in the development of utility-scale wind farms and ‘run-of-river’ hydroelectric projects.
Through a joint venture partnership with Boundless Energy, LLC, Sea Breeze is also involved in development of large-scale, state-of-the-art and environmentally-friendly electricity transmission projects, including the fully permitted 550 MW international "Juan de Fuca Cable", planned to interconnect Victoria, British Columbia with Port Angeles, Washington.
