Oct 1 2014
Samsung Renewable Energy, Inc. (Samsung) and Pattern Energy Group LP today announced they have signed a 20-year power purchase agreement (PPA) with the Ontario Power Authority (OPA) for the 100 megawatt (MW) Belle River Wind project in Ontario. Samsung and Pattern Development will jointly develop, own and operate the Belle River Wind project, which will be built in Lakeshore, Ontario.
"Belle River Wind is the fifth wind project of our $5 billion Green Renewable Energy Investment here in Ontario. Samsung is proud to be a part of the Belle River community and excited about our partnership with the township that will create local jobs," said Steve Cho, Vice President of Samsung C&T Corporation. "Samsung is dedicated to delivering meaningful benefits to communities where we are building clean, renewable energy projects."
"This is our fifth project in Ontario, which will result in a combined 970 MW of wind energy that will be able to power up to 350,000 homes in the province each year," said Mike Garland, CEO of Pattern Development. "Ontario's renewable program is unique in North America and has created thousands of manufacturing and construction jobs as well as millions of dollars in annual revenues to the landowners and communities where the projects and the manufacturing facilities are located. On a local level, the Belle River Wind project will make a significant positive impact, generating hundreds of thousands of dollars annually in landowner payments, community benefits and tax revenue for the community around Lakeshore, Essex County and for the local schools."
Compared to coal-fired generation, the Belle River Wind project would conserve enough water to meet the annual freshwater needs of nearly 9,000 Ontarians and avoid more than 300,000 tonnes of CO2 each year – the equivalent of taking more than 60,000 cars off the roads, according to emission rates from the Ontario Ministry of Environment and southwestern Ontario per capita water consumption from Environment Canada. Each year the 100 MW Belle River Wind project will generate energy equal to the annual electricity needs of more than 35,000 Ontario homes, assuming the average annual residential energy use from the Ontario Ministry of Energy.
Source: http://patternenergy.com/