Grand Renewable Wind construction begins, creating more jobs and investment in Ontario

Project brings more than 1,000 local construction and manufacturing jobs

HALDIMAND COUNTY, ON, Nov. 7, 2013 /CNW/ - Samsung Renewable Energy, Inc. (Samsung) and Pattern Energy Group LP (Pattern Development) have taken another major step in creating clean energy and thousands of local jobs in Ontario.

Today, the partners broke ground on the Grand Renewable Wind (GRW) project in Haldimand County. The 150 megawatt (MW) GRW project will use Ontario-made wind turbine blades and towers. The wind project will generate clean, renewable energy equal to the needs of approximately 50,000 Ontario homes each year.

Workers and subcontractors from across Ontario will be involved in every aspect of the GRW project - from manufacture and assembly of the wind turbine components to site construction, installation work and project operations. The GRW project will utilize 67 Ontario-made wind turbines. Siemens' turbine blade facility in Tillsonburg is manufacturing blades for the project and CS Wind's facility in Windsor is using Ontario-made steel to manufacture the turbine towers.

Construction of the project is scheduled for completion in 2014. There will be an average of 200 workers on-site throughout project construction and approximately 300 workers during peak construction periods. Local subcontractors will be involved in various aspects of project construction, including building the access roads, installing foundations and erecting the turbine towers.

The GRW project will allow Ontario to reach its clean energy goals and continue to move away from its dependence on dirty coal production. Compared to coal-fired generation, each year the GRW project will offset approximately 423,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide the equivalent of taking nearly 83,000 cars off the roads, and conserve enough water to meet the needs of approximately 12,000 Ontarians. The wind power generated at GRW will be sold to the Ontario Power Authority under a power purchase agreement.

In a historic first for Ontario, Samsung and Pattern Development have entered into an equity partnership with Six Nations of the Grand River. Upon completion, the Six Nations community will own 10% of the GRW project. Samsung and Pattern Development also announced a $400,000 donation to the Grand River Post-Secondary Education Office, which will increase opportunities for Six Nations students.

Acting on their commitment to make a positive impact in their project communities, Samsung and Pattern Development have introduced the more than $15 million Community Vibrancy Fund for Haldimand County. The fund will support local community, environment, health and wellness initiatives. The fund will provide a stable source of support over the next 20 years - representing the life of the project.

As part of this community support effort, today Samsung and Pattern Development also announced the donation of a Vintage World War II Yale airplane for the No. 6 Royal Canadian Air Force Dunnville Museum, as well as 20 Samsung Tablets to support the use of technology in learning at Rainham Central School.

Quotes:

"The Grand Renewable Energy Park wind project is an excellent example of local engagement and Aboriginal community participation. In addition to providing clean, renewable energy, this project will produce significant economic benefits for Haldimand County and Six Nations of the Grand River. We're looking forward to continuing to build on this good work with Samsung and Pattern in Ontario."

- Bob Chiarelli, Minister of Energy

"Samsung is thankful to be working with the Haldimand County community and our Six Nations partners on the construction of this important project. We are proud to produce hundreds of megawatts of clean energy, create thousands of high-skilled jobs and provide millions of dollars in community investment, all of which will benefit real people in the community."

- Ki-Jung Kim, Executive Vice President, Samsung C & T Corporation

"With more than 1,000 Ontario workers involved in building this project, it is bringing many benefits to the province, including new jobs, tax revenue, economic stimulus, and clean power. The community of Haldimand has given us great support and we look forward to the project providing the local economy with more than $4 million in direct spending each year of project operations, including the establishment of a Community Vibrancy Fund for local initiatives."

- Mike Garland, CEO, Pattern Development

"This day represents the physical start of this major project between Samsung, Pattern and Six Nations. The idea for this project commenced for the Six Nations Council in 2009 with an introduction to Samsung by the Ontario Ministry of Aboriginal Affairs. Over the past four years we have gotten to know each other firstly on human to human level and from there we shared our cultures and finally reached a business deal that I believe is a template for many more green energy projects on the Haldimand Tract as well as the 1701 Nanfan Treaty lands of the Haudenausonee."

- Chief William K. Montour, Six Nations of the Grand River Elected Council

About Samsung Renewable Energy Inc.

Samsung Renewable Energy is creating clean, renewable energy for generations to come. Together with our partners, Samsung is making a $5-billion investment in Ontario to create the world's largest cluster of wind and solar power. Our investments will create 900 direct renewable energy manufacturing jobs and 9,000 high-skilled jobs in Ontario. Built on Samsung C&T's commercial and technical expertise and the success of its renewable energy projects in several countries - including the United States and Europe - Samsung is creating real jobs, through real investment, benefitting real people. For more information, please visit www.samsungrenewableenergy.ca.

About Pattern Development

Pattern Energy Group LP (Pattern Development) is an independent, fully-integrated energy company that develops, constructs, owns, and operates renewable energy and transmission assets in the United States, Canada and Latin America. With a long history in wind energy, Pattern Development's highly-experienced team of scientists, engineers, construction experts, and legal and financial professionals has developed, financed and placed into operation nearly 3,000 MW of wind power projects. A strong commitment to promoting environmental stewardship drives the Company's dedication to work closely with landowners and communities to create premier renewable energy projects. Pattern Development currently operates approximately 1,000 MW of installed wind energy capacity in North America and Puerto Rico. The Company's full development pipeline exceeds 3,000 MW of renewable energy and transmission projects. Pattern Development has offices in San Francisco, San Diego, Houston, New York, and Toronto.

About Six Nations

Six Nations of the Grand River is the most populated first nation community in all of Canada and is the only place on earth where all of the six nations live together. The Six Nations Territory is 46,500 acres which is home to over 13,000 Mohawk, Cayuga, Onondaga, Oneida, Seneca and Tuscarora nation members. In 1995, Six Nations began to seek from the Crown of Canada a full accounting of the disposition of its land interests which originally comprised 950,000 acres of land acquired through the Haldimand Treaty of 1784. In recent times, Six Nations has commenced consultation and negotiation with renewable energy proponents which has thus far generated a direct and indirect economic interest in over 400 MW of renewable energy power generation in the region. For more information please visit www.sixnations.ca.

SOURCE: Samsung Renewable Energy Inc.

Media contacts:
Tim Smitheman
Samsung Renewable Energy
416-817-9362
[email protected]

Matt Dallas
Pattern Development
917-363-1333
[email protected]

Matt Jamieson
Director of Economic Development
Six Nations Elected Council
519-753-1950
[email protected]