KINCARDINE, ONTARIO--(Marketwire - April 3, 2009) -
Editors Note: Photos for this release will be available via Marketwire on the picture wire of The Canadian Press.
Today, Enbridge Inc. (TSX:ENB) (NYSE:ENB) officially opened the 115-turbine Enbridge Ontario Wind Power project in the Kincardine area, which is capable of producing up to 190 megawatts (MW) of renewable electricity. A ceremony held in Kincardine to mark this milestone was attended by The Honourable George Smitherman, Ontario's Deputy Premier and Minister of Energy and Infrastructure, Carol Mitchell, MPP for Huron-Bruce, Kincardine Mayor Larry Kraemer and other dignitaries.
"The Kincardine community and the province of Ontario are leading the way in their support of wind and emerging clean energy technologies and Enbridge is pleased to contribute to advancing our shared goals through our own green and renewable investment program," said Jim Schultz, Senior Vice President, New Ventures, Enbridge Inc. "Wind power projects like our wind farm in Kincardine further position Enbridge to become a significant player in developing one of the fastest growing sectors of electricity generation in North America."
Enbridge began construction in July of 2007 and the wind farm began supplying green energy to the province's electricity grid in August 2008. The final turbine came online in mid-February 2009. When operating at peak capacity, the 115 turbines can provide enough electricity to power between 50,000 and 60,000 homes.
Minister Smitherman helped mark the occasion held at the electrical substation by switching on one of the 115 Vestas V82 turbines that are located on the 20,000-hectare project site. Each turbine is 80 metres high and includes a three-blade rotor 82 metres in diameter.
"I'm delighted to join Enbridge and the community of Kincardine to celebrate this significant milestone," said Minister Smitherman. "Today at more than 950 megawatts online, Ontario leads the rest of Canada in wind power capacity. With the added impetus of the province's proposed Green Energy Act, the McGuinty government will continue to transform Ontario's electricity generation system into one of the cleanest, greenest energy supply mixes in the world."
"Bringing on new, clean sources of renewable supply provides valuable spinoff benefits to our community while helping to clean up our air," said Carol Mitchell, MPP for Huron-Bruce. "We're proud of our role as an energy powerhouse. Keeping the lights on keeps Ontario competitive and benefits families and businesses across the province."
"Kincardine is already the leader in providing Ontario with clean electricity," said Kincardine Mayor Larry Kraemer. "Our community slogan is 'great energy, balanced life.' We are proud of our role in producing clean, sustainable energy for all Ontarians and in helping to build the province's swiftly emerging green economy."
"Today the Province of Ontario moved towards a cleaner energy economy," said Janet Holder, President of Enbridge Gas Distribution. "With the official opening of the Enbridge Ontario Wind Power facility, the second largest wind farm in Canada, Ontario is well on its way to meeting its targets for renewable energy. We thank all levels of government, our business partners, the landowners who host the turbines and the people in this community for helping make green energy a priority."
Enbridge and clean energy
Enbridge companies are leaders in the development of clean energy technologies:
- Including the Enbridge Ontario Wind Power facility, Enbridge has interests in four wind farms with a combined capacity of more than 260 megawatts, or enough electricity to meet the energy requirements for about 90,000 homes. The Company also has interests in four waste heat recovery facilities in Saskatchewan that are capable of generating approximately 20 megawatts of greenhouse-gas free electricity.
- Enbridge, EPCOR Utilities Inc. and the Enbridge-led Alberta Saline Aquifer Project (ASAP) are developing two carbon capture and sequestration (CCS) projects that each have the potential to meet nearly one-quarter of the Alberta government's carbon dioxide (CO2) reduction target. The two projects are designed to provide cleaner electricity from both existing and new electricity plants, with captured CO2 piped offsite and used for enhanced oil recovery (EOR) or stored underground in saline aquifers.
- Enbridge Gas Distribution's Toronto headquarters is the site of the world's first hybrid fuel cell power plant which harvests pipeline energy that would otherwise be wasted and combines it with fuel cell technology to generate 2.2 megawatts of ultra-clean electricity - enough to serve up to 1,700 Ontario homes.
- Between 1995 and 2007, Enbridge Gas Distribution's energy efficiency programs allowed customers to avoid the use of natural gas by 3.6 billion cubic metres and avoided 6.9 million tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions. The savings provide enough natural gas to serve more than 1.1 million homes for one year or are equivalent to removing 1.5 million cars from the road for a year.
About Enbridge
Enbridge Inc., a Canadian company, is a leader in energy transportation and distribution in North America and internationally. As a transporter of energy, Enbridge operates, in Canada and the U.S., the world's longest crude oil and liquids transportation system. The Company also has international operations and a growing involvement in the natural gas transmission and midstream businesses. As a distributor of energy, Enbridge owns and operates Canada's largest natural gas distribution company, and provides distribution services in Ontario, Quebec, New Brunswick and New York State. Enbridge employs approximately 6,000 people, primarily in Canada and the U.S. Enbridge's common shares trade on the Toronto Stock Exchange in Canada and on the New York Stock Exchange in the U.S. under the symbol ENB. Information about Enbridge is available on the Company's web site at www.enbridge.com.
For more information please contact:
Enbridge Inc.
Debbie Boukydis
Media
(416) 495-5682
Email: debbie.boukydis@enbridge.com
Website: www.enbridge.com