Wind Energy

Canada?s largest wind energy plant

Greengate Power Corporation signed a wind turbines supply agreement, as well as long-term service and maintenance agreements, with Vestas-Canadian Wind Technology, Inc. for its 300 MW Blackspring Ridge I Wind Power Project.

“Entering into these agreements is an important milestone for this project,” said Dan Balaban, president and CEO of Greengate. “We are continuing to move forward to a construction start in 2012 and expect the project to be operational in early 2013. We expect this to be the largest operating wind project in Canada when completed.”

The windfarm is located in Southern Alberta in Vulcan County, near the Village of Carmangay, about 165 km southeast of Calgary.

Under the agreements, Vestas will supply 166 of its V90-1.8 MW wind turbines for Blackspring Ridge I.

Greengate received the final approval from the Alberta Utilities Commission in March to construct and operate its Blackspring Ridge I Wind Project and has permits for this model of Vestas wind turbine.

The Alberta utilities commission approved the project for specific turbine models,” explained Balaban. “Our project is approved for the model of Vestas turbine named under the supply agreement. This means no re-permitting is required to move forward with the project.”

Deliveries of the turbines are expected to begin in the third quarter of 2012.

“The V90-1.8 MW wind turbine is ideally suited for Blackspring Ridge I and we expect this to result in the solid financial performance of this project,” said Balaban.

Vestas will provide ten years of service and maintenance at a predetermined cost.

“We are still in the process of finalizing our finance and detailed engineering, as well as selecting the EPC (engineering, procurement and construction) contractor,” said Balaban.

Stantec completed the environmental assessment of the project and GL Garrad Hassan completed the wind design, engineering and assessment work.

GL Garrad Hassan is the world’s largest renewable energy consultancy.

It offers independent technical and engineering services, products, and training courses to the onshore and offshore wind, wave, tidal and solar sectors.

Upon completion, Blackspring Ridge I will have a total generating capacity of 300 MW. Greengate is currently developing 1,550 MW of wind energy projects on about 200,000 acres of private land.

www.vestas.com

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