June 5, 2001
on the SunBridge Wind Power Project. SunBridge is a $20 million
partnership between Suncor Energy Inc. and Enbridge Inc. Initial
construction activity will include site excavation and groundwork
such as the pouring of concrete. Full-scale construction of 17
wind turbines will follow.
The wind power project, to be built near Gull Lake, Saskatchewan,
is expected to generate up to 11 megawatts of electricity when
complete. As part of the regulatory approval process, the
SunBridge partnership conducted detailed assessment of potential
environmental and socio-economic impacts, and has committed to
ongoing monitoring of the impact of construction and operations on
the environment, such as native vegetation and wildlife.
The project is expected to be fully operational by June 2002.
Power will be distributed through the Saskatchewan power grid,
with SaskPower purchasing the electricity produced at the facility
to provide power for federal government buildings in Saskatchewan
and other customers. SunBridge is a 50:50 partnership of Suncor
and Enbridge, with Enbridge acting as the project operator.
Enbridge is a leader in energy transportation, distribution and
services, in North America and internationally. The Calgary-based
company operates, in Canada and the U.S., the world's longest
crude oil and liquids pipeline system, and has had a presence in
Saskatchewan for over 50 years, operating over 3300 kilometres of
pipeline through the province. Enbridge also has a growing
involvement in the natural gas transmission business through its
interests in the Alliance and Vector Pipelines; owns and operates
Canada's largest natural gas distribution company, which provides
gas in Ontario, Quebec and New York State to approximately 1.5
million customers; is developing a natural gas distribution system
for the province of New Brunswick; invests in international energy
projects; distributes electricity; and provides retail energy
products and services to a growing number of Canadian and U.S.
markets. Additional information about Enbridge is available on
the company's web site at www.enbridge.com.
Suncor Energy Inc. is an integrated Canadian energy company with
headquarters in Calgary, Alberta. The company is a leader in
mining and extracting crude oil from the oil sands deposits of
Northern Alberta. Suncor also has a conventional natural gas
producer in Western Canada and operates a refining and marketing
business in Ontario under the Sunoco brand. At the same time as
Suncor meets today's energy needs by developing hydrocarbon based
resources, the company invests in alternative and renewable
energy, such as wind power. This business is managed under the
name Suncor Energy Alternative and Renewable Developments, a
division of Suncor's subsidiary, Sunoco Inc. Early last year,
Suncor announced plans to invest $100 million in alternative and
renewable energy projects by 2005.