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OTTAWA, January 11, 2011 – The Canadian Wind Energy Association (CanWEA) is helping its members enhance their communications about proposed wind energy developments with the introduction of Best Practices for Community Engagement and Public Consultation. The guidelines are designed to support wind energy project developers in continuously improving their work with local communities while ensuring that they meet and strive to exceed provincial requirements for public consultation.

“CanWEA’s commitment to enhanced public consultation and stakeholder engagement recognizes the right of citizens to have a meaningful role in discussions about developments that affect their community,” said CanWEA president Robert Hornung.  “Effective and meaningful community engagement is fundamental to the success of a wind energy project, and our new Best Practice guidelines represent an important step in our continued effort to improve and strengthen our practices as interest in wind energy development grows across Canada. We are confident that our members will see the guidelines as a valuable tool to help them involve the local community at an early stage, ensure there is a clear understanding of their project and facilitate an effective dialogue about the project based on the facts.”

The Best Practices for Community Engagement and Public Consultation was developed with input from experts in the field of communications and public consultation, as well as discussions with dozens of municipal leaders.

CanWEA is committed to reviewing and updating the guidelines as new information and other successful practices are introduced. The association also plans to support implementation of the Best Practices through several training sessions in 2011.

The guide is available online at:  http://www.canwea.ca/about/communityengagement_e.php

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.

For more information or interview opportunities, please contact:

Ulrike Kucera, Media Relations Officer
Canadian Wind Energy Association
(O) 613 234 8716 ext. 228
(M) 613 867 4433