WIND POWER BRINGS ECONOMIC BENEFITS TO SASKATCHEWAN

Premier Lorne Calvert and Minister responsible for SaskPower Frank Quennell today stressed the economic and environmental benefits of the Centennial Wind Power Facility to the province, as they toured the 150-megawatt (MW) project. It is currently under construction by SaskPower International and located 25 kilometres southeast of Swift Current.

"The Centennial Wind Power Facility is a great example of this government's commitment to a green and prosperous economy," Calvert said. "Besides providing 150 MW of environmentally low-impact power, which helps address the issue of climate change, it helps meet the growing demand for electricity and will have a multi-million dollar impact on the Saskatchewan economy."

The multi-million dollar economic benefits to Saskatchewan are estimated to be:

• $70 million of Saskatchewan goods and services used during construction;

• $19 million in provincial sales tax (PST) paid during construction and operations;

• $5 million in Saskatchewan capital tax paid during the project life;

• $6 million in land lease payments paid during construction and operations;

• 178,000 person-hours of Saskatchewan trades people used during fabrication and construction;

• 15-18 construction and service contracts awarded to Saskatchewan companies, many of these through the turbine supply and installation contractor, Vestas-Canadian Wind Technology, Inc.; and

• 12 new, full-time, permanent employment positions created for operations.

Accompanying Premier Calvert and Minister Quennell were SaskPower president and CEO Pat Youzwa; SaskPower International president and CEO David Hughes and Vestas projects vice-president Anders Vedel, the turbine supply and installation contractor.

"When completed, wind power will account for approximately five per cent of Saskatchewan's total electrical generation capacity, the highest percentage in Canada," Quennell said.

The facility is scheduled to be completed by the end of this year. Vestas-Canadian Wind Technology, Inc., who was awarded the wind turbine supply and installation contract by SaskPower International, is constructing the facility.

"The Centennial Wind Power Project is a milestone in wind power generation in Canada and we are proud to take part in this development," Vedel said.

"The Government of Canada will provide approximately $54 million in funding over 10 years to the project through the Wind Power Production Incentive (WPPI)," said Ralph Goodale, Federal Minister of Finance. "The WPPI was created to help Canada diversify its energy supply and at the same time contribute to greenhouse gas (GHG) emission reductions."

The Centennial Wind Power Project is currently the largest wind power development in Canada. When combined with Saskatchewan's existing wind power facilities, the completion of this project will result in 172 MW of wind generation capacity in the province.

For more information visit saskpowerinternational.com.

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For More Information, Contact:

Larry Christie SaskPower Regina Phone: (306) 566-3167 Email: (888) 536-0000