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10/14/2009
CanWEA welcomes remarks made yesterday by Federal Liberal Leader Michael Ignatieff in support of greater investment in clean energy
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.
Mr. Ignatieff told the Vancouver Trade Board that a Liberal government would make a “significant national investment in clean energy”. In his speech, Mr. Ignatieff said he would “make renewable power a national priority by working with business, communities and all order of government to design incentives that encourage new renewable power projects.”
“CanWEA is pleased to see that Mr. Ignatieff recognizes the tremendous contribution green energy can make to Canada’s economic future and shares his view that capturing this opportunity should be a national priority. To compete and win investment and jobs in the rapidly growing global green energy sector, we need active government engagement – and strong leadership. Strategic investments made today for clean energy technologies like wind energy will create the 21st century knowledge economy and manufacturing jobs that are so badly needed in this time of economic challenge and beyond,” said Robert Hornung, CanWEA President.
Canada currently ranks 11th in the world in terms of installed wind energy capacity and 16th in terms of the percentage of domestic 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.
"While the wind energy industry is poised for continued 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 make new investments to renew its commitment to support wind energy deployment given the fact that the successful ecoENERGY for Renewable Power program is scheduled to meet its targets this fall - a year and a half ahead of schedule. We look forward to working with the government and all Parties to ensure the continuation of this popular program so Canada does not lose clean energy investment and jobs to the United States."
CanWEA’s vision document, WindVision 2025 – Powering Canada’s Future, estimates that Canada can and should meet 20 per cent of its electricity needs with wind by the year 2025. Achieving this goal will generate about $80 billion (CDN) in new investment, create a minimum of 50,000 new jobs, and provide economic development opportunities for rural communities throughout Canada.
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.
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For more information, please contact:
Ulrike Kucera
CanWEA Media Relations Officer
613-234-8716 ext. 228
Mobile: 613-867-4433
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