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If it’s about wind energy, we make sure it’s making news. Read up on CanWEA’s news releases.

03/04/2010   Federal Budget Fails to Extend Support for New Wind Energy Development: Canada’s ability to compete with the U.S. for new investment and jobs reduced

Ottawa, ONTARIO-MARCH 4, 2010 -- The Canadian Wind Energy Association (CanWEA) today expressed its serious disappointment with the federal government’s failure to expand and extend its very successful ecoENERGY for Renewable Power Program in the 2010 federal budget. Despite its expressed desire to harmonize climate change and clean energy policies with the United States, the federal government is now clearly moving in the opposite direction with respect to efforts to attract wind energy investment and jobs.

OTTAWA, Canada, Feb. 10th, 2010 - The Canadian Wind Energy Association (CanWEA) today extended congratulations to the British Columbia government for its Throne Speech announcements on the future of clean energy development in the province. In the Speech, the government outlined its intention to put in place a new Clean Energy Act that will, among other things, seek to improve energy procurement processes and streamline existing regulatory processes.

OTTAWA, Canada, Feb. 4th, 2010 – The Global Wind Energy Council (GWEC) today announced that the world’s wind power capacity grew by 31% in 2009, adding 37,500 Megawatts (MW) to bring total installations up to 157,900MW. A third of these additions were made in China, which experienced yet another year with over 100% growth. Meanwhile, Canada’s wind energy industry enjoyed a record year with 950 MW of new wind energy capacity installed in eight provinces – placing Canada 9th globally in terms of new installed capacity for the year. New wind developments represented more than $2.2 billion in investment, increasing Canada’s total installed capacity to 3,319 MW.

OTTAWA, Canada, Jan. 14, 2010 – GE Energy Financial Services, a unit of GE (NYSE: GE), unveiled today a study estimating that renewing a Canadian federal financial incentive that has now allocated virtually all of its funding for wind energy projects would more than pay for itself through tax revenues from the projects’ income, vendors’ profits and individual workers’ wages.  The study estimated that injecting an additional $1.5 billion CDN into Canada’s ecoENERGY for Renewable Power program could spawn 5.2 gigawatts of new wind projects and carry a net present value benefit to Canada’s governments of $287 million CDN.

December 16, 2009 - (Ottawa) – The Canadian Wind Energy Association (CanWEA) is encouraged by the Ontario Power Authority’s (OPA) announcement today regarding the results of the Feed-in Tariff Program’s Launch Application period. The OPA stated in a release today that over 8,000 MWs of new renewable energy projects, 79% of which are wind energy projects, have applied for Feed-in Tariff contracts in the province. Many of these projects are “shovel-ready” and they are poised to deliver jobs and at least $5 billion in investment to Ontario.

OTTAWA, December 15, 2009 – An international panel of experts has released a report based on a review of a large body of scientific literature on sound and health effects, and specifically with regard to sound produced by wind turbines. After extensive review, analysis and discussion, the panel has concluded that sounds or vibrations emitted from wind turbines have no adverse effect on human health.

Provincial milestone reached just as federal government poised to end support for new wind energy projects

OTTAWA, November 5, 2009 – The Canadian Wind Energy Association (CanWEA) recognizes the British Columbia government’s progress and commitment to developing clean energy sources to supply the province’s electricity needs. The first wind energy projects in British Columbia are now fully commissioned and providing clean renewal power to British Columbians.  These projects, along with the recently announced provincial cabinet committee established on climate action and clean energy, are clear examples that British Columbia is moving to take advantage of the many benefits of its massive wind energy opportunity.

The Canadian Wind Energy Association (CanWEA) today welcomed remarks made yesterday by Federal Liberal Leader Michael Ignatieff in support of greater investment in clean energy.

TORONTO, September 23 – The Canadian Wind Energy Association (CanWEA) recognized organizations and individuals working tirelessly to advance the Canadian wind energy industry during its gala Awards Banquet yesterday as part of its 25th Annual Conference and Trade Show.

TORONTO, September 23 – The Canadian Wind Energy Association (CanWEA) and Canadian Manufacturers &Exporters (CME) announced today  a strategic partnership to explore Canadian manufacturing opportunities in the growing global wind energy industry.  The announcement was made at the close of CanWEA’s 25th annual Conference & Exhibition in downtown Toronto.

OTTAWA, September 24, 2009 – The Canadian Wind Energy Association (CanWEA) today applauded the Ontario Government for the introduction of Ontario’s new Feed-in Tariff (FIT) program, the first of its kind in North America. The program sets a fixed price for renewable energy projects.

The plan will greatly enhance the ability for wind energy projects to be integrated into Ontario’s grid and allow for more green energy to be distributed across the province – creating an estimated 20,000 jobs and $2.3 billion in investment over the next three years.

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

Opening ceremonies for the Canadian Wind Energy Association’s (CanWEA) Annual Conference and Exhibition — Infinite Possibilities — will commence on September 21, 2009 at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre.

OTTAWA, July 31, 2009 -- The Canadian Wind Energy Association (CanWEA), today voiced its support for the BC Government’s continued desire to pursue new renewable energy projects as evidenced by Minister Lekstrom’s, Minister of Energy, Mines and Petroleum Resources, response to the recent ruling by the British Columbia Utilities Commission (BCUC) on the Long Term Acquisition Plan proposed by BC Hydro.

A recent study by Massachusetts-based Power Advisory LLC, commissioned by the Canadian Wind Energy Association (CanWEA), has found significant potential for wind energy exports from the Maritime Provinces to the United States northeast.

New RFP for 100 MW of wind energy furthers New Brunswick’s goal of reaching 400 MW of wind power by 2010

(Ottawa, June 18, 2009) – The Canadian Wind Energy Association (CanWEA) welcomes yesterday’s announcement by Energy Ministry Jack Keir to proceed with the procurement of 100 MW of new wind energy capacity in New Brunswick.

The announcement is in keeping with the province's commitment to develop new renewable energy sources and secure 400 MW of wind-energy generation capacity by 2010. CanWEA is looking forward for further wind development in the Atlantic Provinces and the region becoming a wind energy export powerhouse to the American Northeast.

New RFPs for 500 MW of wind energy will allow Quebec to reach its target of 4000MW by 2015

(Montreal, May 1, 2009) – The Canadian Wind Energy Association (CanWEA) applauds yesterday’s announcement to proceed with the procurement of 500 MW of new wind energy capacity in Quebec and to increase the ceiling price from 9.5 ¢/kWh to 12.5 ¢/kWh in the call for tenders for the purchase of two separate blocks of 250 MW of community and First Nations wind energy projects. CanWEA and its membership had argued the original proposed pricing of 9.5 ¢/kWh was not sufficient to attract or sustain long-term investment.

Ontario’s Green Energy Act seizes the opportunity to create jobs, drive investment and reduce emissions through increased development of renewable energy

(Ottawa) – The Canadian Wind Energy Association (CanWEA) applauded the announcement of Ontario’s proposed Green Energy Act (GEA) tabled today by the Honorable George Smitherman, Deputy Premier and Minister of Energy and Infrastructure. Ontario is currently Canada’s wind leader with 782 Megawatts of installed wind capacity, a figure that will increase to at least 1,200 MW by the end of 2009, powering more than 325,000 homes. CanWEA is confident that the GEA will drive further growth of wind energy in the province and firmly establish Ontario as a North American leader in the development of a new “Green Economy” that creates jobs, drives investment and reduces emissions of greenhouse gases and other air pollutants.

The Canadian Wind Energy Association (CanWEA) yesterday concluded the country’s first-ever seminar on supply chain opportunities in Canada’s growing wind energy industry. The seminar, titled Opportunities in Canada’s Wind Energy Supply and Value Chains, was an unqualified success with larger-than-expected attendance of more than 370 delegates from a wide range of sectors including manufacturing, construction, engineering, steel fabrication, and specialty component suppliers.

Representatives from a broad range of sectors will explore the new economic opportunity presented by Canada’s expanding wind energy industry at a Feb. 18-19 seminar and networking session in Toronto titled ‘Opportunities in Canada’s Wind Energy Supply and Value Chains’.

The Canadian Wind Energy Association (CanWEA) today reacted with disappointment to the federal government’s failure to expand and extend its very successful ecoENERGY for Renewable Power Program (eRPP) in the 2009 federal budget. The absence of such action in the federal budget means that federal production incentives for the deployment of wind and other forms of renewable energy will run out of funding to support new projects before the end of the next fiscal year.

(Ottawa) – The Canadian Wind Energy Association (CanWEA) welcomed today’s announcement of long-term contracts for six new wind energy projects in Ontario totaling 492 MW by Ontario’s Minister of Energy and Infrastructure, the Hon. George Smitherman. Ontario is currently Canada’s wind leader with 782 MW of installed capacity, providing clean electricity for over 230,000 homes.

CanWEA today announced Canada has officially become the 12th country in the world to surpass 2,000 MW of installed wind energy capacity.

CanWEA today congratulated Manitoba Hydro and the Manitoba Government on news of the acceptance of a proposal by St. Joseph Wind Farm Inc. to develop Canada’s largest single wind farm near Letellier in southern Manitoba.

In response to growing demand from consumers, CanWEA has released a new 16-page “Small Wind Purchasing Guide” for off-grid, residential, farm and commercial applications.

CanWEA today welcomed the federal government’s commitment to clean energy in its 2008 Speech from the Throne. The federal government outlined its commitment to draw 90 per cent of electricity from renewable resources by the year 2020.

In the face of predictions, rhetoric and warnings about the planet's environmental crisis, one man stands alone as a revolutionary who is transforming a country. And it's likely you've never heard his name.

McGuinty Government Celebrates Canada's Largest Wind Farm

The Canadian Wind Energy Association (CanWEA) today concluded in Vancouver its biggest and best Annual Conference and Trade Show in the association’s history with record attendance and a bold, new vision for the future of wind energy in Canada.

CanWEA recognized organizations and individuals working tirelessly to advance the wind-energy industry in Canada during its gala Awards Banquet Tuesday as part of its 24th Annual Conference and Trade Show in Vancouver.

The Canadian Wind Energy Association (CanWEA), in association with The Strategic Council, released the results of its Wind Power Survey during its 24th Annual Conference and Trade Show in Vancouver. The national survey shows Canadians strongly support the development of renewable energy sources, and their first choice for energy is wind energy.

The plan, entitled Wind Vision 2025 – Powering Canada’s Future, argues that Canada can and must ensure that wind energy supplies 20 per cent of the country’s demand by 2025, bringing total Canadian wind-energy capacity to 55,000 MW.

The CanWEA Annual Conference and Trade Show — Fast Forward to Wind — will be held in Vancouver October 19 – 22 at the Vancouver Convention and Exhibition Centre.

Response to a recent publication by Dr. Nina Pierpont

Ontario government puts additional focus on renewable energy growth opportunities

More than 220 delegates representing Aboriginal communities, the wind industry and governments across Canada came together at CanWEA's first-ever Wind and Aboriginal Communities seminar

Source d’énergie et de développement économique régional, l’électricité de source éolienne peut devenir un puissant outil au service des municipalités du Québec.

The Canadian Wind Energy Association (CanWEA) welcomes the publication of the findings of a study on Barotrauma in the journal Current Biology by University of Calgary researcher Erin Baerwald.

Wind and Aboriginal Communities Seminar to explore opportunities in growing wind energy industry.

Entirely apart from how the three organizations feel about other changes to RESOP, short term or long term, the groups are in complete agreement on the need to grandfather existing developers with respect to the new project limits.

CanWEA has submitted its comments to Quebec’s Ministère des Ressources naturelles et de la Faune [Department of natural resources and wildlife] as part of the consultations regarding proposed regulations for two blocks of 250 MW of wind energy from Aboriginal and community projects.

British Columbia is about to enter a new era of clean energy generation with the largest clean power call ever issued in the province, setting the stage for BC’s untapped potential of wind energy to be realized.

Le fait de vivre à proximité d’un parc d’éoliennes augmente l’acceptabilité envers cette forme d’énergie verte au lieu de la réduire. Available in French only.

On May 5th of this year, the Government of Quebec and Hydro Québec announced that 2,000 MW of electricity would be produced by wind sources in various regions of Quebec. The members of the Quebec caucus of the Canadian Wind Energy Association (CanWEA) have committed to developing wind farm projects that respect the host communities and have acceded to these Guiding Principles.

The Guiding Principles were published in La Presse on May 6th. Click here to view the ad.

The Canadian Wind Energy Association (CanWEA) has responded to comments made by Alberta Premier Ed Stelmach in which he claimed that the recent death of hundreds of ducks on an oilsands tailings pond was insignificant when compared to deaths caused by wind turbines.

The Canadian Wind Energy Association (CanWEA) applauds the announcement of 15 new wind farms, and considers it an unprecedented step for the growth of wind power in Quebec, and for environmental protection. CanWEA believes that this very good news is a harbinger of a bright future for the development of Quebec society and its regions.

The Global Wind Energy Council is forecasting that the global wind market will grow by over 155% to reach 240 GW of total installed capacity by 2012. In its annual “Global Wind Energy Report 2007”, GWEC has adjusted its previous forecast to take into account the unexpectedly strong increase in wind energy deployment around the world. The report will be presented at the European Wind Energy Conference (EWEC) in Brussels on 1 April 2008.

As another global record was set in 2007 with the installation of 20,000 MW of new, emission-free wind power, Canada’s total installed capacity grew to 1,846 MW with the addition of 386 MW of new wind energy projects, its 2nd best year ever. Wind energy now produces enough electricity in Canada to meet the needs of 560,000 homes.

The Global Wind Energy Council today confirmed its earlier estimate that over 20,000 MW of wind power was installed in 2007, led by the US, China and Spain, bringing world-wide installed capacity to 94,112 MW. This is an increase of 31% compared with the 2006 market, and represents an overall increase in global installed capacity of about 27%.