Canada's wind energy industry enjoys record year for 2009

    
    Leadership from federal and provincial governments needed to ensure
    long-term growth
    

OTTAWA , Sept. 20 /CNW Telbec/ - The Canadian Wind Energy Association (CanWEA) today opened its Annual Conference and Exhibition with news that 2009 will be a record year for wind energy development in Canada with new installed capacity from wind energy projects totaling 790 MW. By year's end, Canada will have 3,159 MW of installed capacity - with wind developments operating in in every province for the first time ever.

Canada ranks 12th in the world in terms of installed wind energy capacity and percentage of electricity generated from wind. Wind currently supplies about 1 per cent of Canada's electricity demand with enough power to meet the needs of 860,000 homes.

"We are proud that wind energy development has been able to provide economic stimulus to the Canadian economy at a record rate during a time of economic challenge," said CanWEA President Robert Hornung . "Canada's wind energy industry is one step closer to reaching its goal of providing 20 per cent of the country's electricity needs by 2025. Achieving this goal will generate about $80 billion (CDN) in investment, create more than 50,000 new jobs, and provide economic development opportunities for rural communities throughout Canada ."

Global leaders of installed wind energy capacity include the U.S. at 25,000MW, Germany at 23,900 MW, and Spain at 16,700 MW. Over the past 10 years, global wind energy capacity has continued to grow at an average cumulative rate of more than 25 per cent. Global investment in wind energy is projected to total more than $1 trillion (US) by 2020, bringing global installed capacity to more than 600,000 MW.

"While the wind energy industry is poised for further growth in 2010, Canada's ability to fully capture its wind energy potential will depend in part on the actions of federal and provincial governments," said Mr. Hornung . "The federal government must renew its commitment to support wind energy given the successful ecoENERGY for Renewable Power program is scheduled to meet its targets this fall - a year and a half ahead of schedule."

CanWEA's vision document, Wind Vision 2025 - Powering Canada's Future, estimates that wind energy has the potential to be one of Canada's next great economic opportunities while also reducing greenhouse gas emissions and addressing other environmental concerns.

CanWEA's Annual Conference and Exhibition is Canada's leading conference on wind energy. It takes place in Toronto from September 20-23 featuring the highest number of attendees in its 25-year history with 2,100 Canadian, U.S. and European business leaders registered.

About CanWEA

CanWEA is the voice of Canada's wind energy industry, actively promoting the responsible and sustainable growth of wind energy on behalf of its more than 450 members. A national non-profit association, CanWEA serves as Canada's leading source of credible information about wind energy and its social, economic and environmental benefits. To join other global leaders in the wind energy industry, CanWEA believes Canada can and must reach its target of producing 20 per cent or more of the country's electricity from wind by 2025. The document Wind Vision 2025 - Powering Canada's Future is available at www.canwea.ca.

For further information: Ulrike Kucera, Media Relations Officer, [phone], ext. 228, Mobile: [phone]