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Attention business reporters/editors

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.

Awards were presented in four categories: Individual Leadership, Group Leadership, the R.J. Templin Award for scientific, technical, engineering or policy work which has helped wind energy grow to new heights in Canada. The Friend of Wind award, in recognition of outstanding contributions made by individuals or groups in advancing awareness of the benefits of wind energy at the community level, was presented for the first time this year.

CanWEA award winners for 2009 are:

Individual Leadership Award
Paul Gipe has worked with wind energy since 1976. He is best known for his advocacy of wind energy and for his articles and books on the subject. He has lectured widely on wind energy and how to minimize its impact on the environment and the communities of which it is a part.

Group Leadership Award
Municipality of Chatham-Kent views wind as an opportunity to be welcomed vs. a problem to be dealt with. Through numerous committee, planning and council meetings the municipality showed leadership in their approach to integrating wind into their community.

R.J. Templin Award
The Utility Wind Integration Group (UWIG) led by Charlie Smith, has played an important leadership role in helping system operators across North America better understand and manage the impacts of integrating wind energy onto the grid, thereby facilitating movement towards much larger wind penetration levels across North America.

Friend of Wind Award
Don Ross  a real estate agent in Prince Edward County, Ontario, who believes strongly that wind energy must satisfy 20% of Canada's electricity demand, bringing jobs, investment, and most of all clean energy to the benefit of all Canadians.  As a truly organic grassroots supporter of wind energy, Don is able to communicate his beliefs free of direct industry involvement.

Lynn Acre played a leadership role as mayor of Bayham to ensure community support for the Erie Shores wind farm. Faced with traditional resource declines and sagging morale, Lynn felt the community truly needed something positive to rally around. That ‘something’ was wind energy.

“We are proud to recognize this year’s CanWEA award winners for their outstanding contributions to the wind energy industry in Canada,” said CanWEA President Robert Hornung. “It is thanks to their ongoing efforts and achievements that Canada’s wind energy industry is well on its way to reaching its goal of providing 20 per cent of the country’s electricity needs by 2025.”

About Canadian Wind Energy Association
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.

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For more information, please contact:

Ulrike Kucera                                                 
CanWEA Media Relations Officer               
613-234-8716 ext. 228                                   
Mobile: 613-867-4433