Released on March 28, 2006
SaskPower today announced that it has signed a Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) with Benchlands Wind Power Corp. (Benchlands) for their project selected in the first phase of the Environmentally Preferred Power (EPP) program. The agreement is a 20-year contract for SaskPower to purchase electricity from a 5.4-megawatt (MW) wind power project to be built and operated by Benchlands at a site near Tompkins, Saskatchewan."It is a commitment of this government to build a green and prosperous future using strategies such as our Green Power Portfolio," Minister responsible for SaskPower John Nilson said. "The EPP program is a cornerstone of that portfolio helping to meet the energy needs of our growing economy with environmentally low-impact generation options that create no additional greenhouse gases."
"Benchlands is pleased to participate with SaskPower in the Environmentally Preferred Power initiative," Benchlands President Brock John said. "Southwestern Saskatchewan is blessed with a world class wind resource and we are excited by the opportunity to develop this project in an area with so much potential."
Benchlands Wind Power Corp. is a partnership between WindWorks Energy Corp., the proponent that submitted the successful project proposal, and their financing partner, Creststreet Windpower Development LP, which specializes in developing and managing wind power assets in Canada.
"We are delighted that our joint venture is partnering with SaskPower in developing a wind power project in Saskatchewan," Creststreet Managing Director Eric McFadden said. "Our investor base, which is made up of retail investors from across Canada, including Saskatchewan, has funded the construction and operation of three Canadian windfarms. We recognize the premium quality of the wind resource in Saskatchewan and see Saskatchewan as an important part of our future."
No construction schedule for the project has been finalized, however, the project is anticipated to be operational in the fall of 2007. Timing will depend on SaskPower and Benchlands receiving environmental and regulatory approvals and SaskPower acquiring permission to build the interconnection to the provincial electrical grid. As part of this approval process, public consultations will likely take place later this year.
"Through this program, SaskPower is realizing an opportunity to partner with independent power producers to build and operate smaller-scale generation projects that have the potential be an important part of our future generation mix," SaskPower President Pat Youzwa said.
In the second phase of solicitation for the program, SaskPower is evaluating proposals for additional EPP projects and it plans to make the final selections later this spring. SaskPower hopes to acquire up to 45 MW of environmentally preferred power under the program.
In addition to the EPP program, the Green Power Portfolio includes community energy efficiency pilot projects, the Cypress Wind Power Facility and SaskPower International's 150-MW Centennial Wind Power Facility in southwest Saskatchewan.
For more information on the EPP program, visit www.saskpower.com.
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For More Information, Contact:
| Larry Christie SaskPower Regina Phone: (306) 566-3167 Cell: 1-888-536-0000 | Brock John P.Eng Benchlands Wind Power Corp. Calgary Phone: (403) 251-0689 |