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Attention business/energy reporters

Ottawa, ONTARIO- December 1, 2011 – Wind energy is well positioned to limit huge increases in greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) that would result from powering new industrial developments with fossil fuels, according to a new report by the Pembina Institute. The report, GHG Reductions from Enhanced Electrification of Potential New Industrial Demand in British Columbia, finds that clean energy sources such as wind could reduce annual GHG emissions by as much as 8.86 MT CO2eq by 2025 – or the equivalent of converting nearly 2 million passenger cars and trucks into zero-emission vehicles.

Commissioned by the Canadian Wind Energy Association (CanWEA), the report determines the potential GHG reductions that would result from fully electrifying new industrial developments in the province with clean and renewable grid-based electricity.

"There is clearly an opportunity to limit the increase in emissions of new large industrial developments with clean grid-tied electricity such as wind energy," says Alison Bailie of Pembina. "Any industrial development needs careful consideration in terms of both the appropriate pace and scale of the development and the opportunities for clean technology to help mitigate negative impacts."

A September 2011 report also commissioned by CanWEA – Additional Industrial Electrical Load Growth in BC to 2025, by Steve Davis and Associates Consulting Ltd. – identified a huge new demand for energy in BC from six new industrial projects planned in the north and northeast region of the province. The new Pembina report builds upon these findings and further calculates the reduction in GHG emissions that can be achieved if the full potential for additional electrification as identified is achieved using clean and renewable electricity generation.

"Wind energy will play a pivotal role in delivering cost-competitive, low-impact and emissions-free electricity to help meet new power demands, while also helping the province meet its world-leading clean energy targets," said Robert Hornung, president of CanWEA. "Wind energy is poised to also deliver thousands of new jobs and millions of dollars in new investments to BC communities. We look forward to working with the government to help ensure BC meets its goals and realizes new economic and significant environmental benefits."

British Columbia can satisfy 17 per cent of its projected electricity demand with clean, affordable wind energy by the year 2025, according to WindVision 2025: A Strategy for British Columbia, a report released in October at CanWEA's Annual Conference and Exhibition in Vancouver. The strategy suggests that the share of wind energy as a percentage of total generation in the province can increase from the current 250 MW (megawatts) - or 1 per cent of electricity demand – to 5,250 MW, or 17 per cent, by the year 2025.

The BC Clean Energy Act (2010) aims to significantly reduce GHG emissions to sub-2007 levels within a policy framework that encourages the switch to clean energies. BC has targets to produce no more than 45 million tonnes (MT) of GHGs in 2020 and 13.5 MT of GHGs in 2050.

CanWEA is the voice of the wind energy industry, actively promoting the responsible and sustainable growth of wind energy throughout Canada on behalf of its more than 440 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. The document Wind Vision 2025 – Powering Canada's Future is available at www.canwea.ca

For more information or to schedule a media interview, contact:

Ulrike Kucera, Media Relations
Office: 613 234 8716 ext. 228
Mobile: 613 867 4433