Ontario’s newest wind facility is now up and running. Samsung Renewable Energy, Inc. (Samsung) and Pattern Energy Group Inc. recently announced that the Grand Renewable Wind project has completed construction and reached commercial operation. The 149 MW Grand Renewable Wind facility has the capacity to produce clean power for approximately 50,000 Ontario homes each year.
“Wind provides clean, emission-free electricity for Ontarians while creating thousands of jobs and economic opportunities,” said Bob Chiarelli, Minister of Energy. “Collaborative projects like this one will help wind reach 15 percent of the province’s installed capacity by 2025.”
“The Six Nations Elected Council is committed to ensuring we enter into sustainable development projects that not only enrich our economy but are also socially and environmentally responsible,” said Chief Ava Hill, Six Nations Elected Council. “Both Samsung and Pattern Energy committed to developing an equity partnership with Six Nations, the way they approached the partnership with Six Nations set the bar on how we want to work with businesses to enable us to generate resources for our future generations.”
“Samsung is proud to be part of the Haldimand community and excited about our historic equity agreement with Six Nations Elected Council,” said Mr. Steve Cho, Vice President, Samsung C&T. “The Grand Renewable Wind facility along with our other projects in the Province are creating thousands of high-skilled jobs that will benefit real people in this community and across Ontario.”
“We are honored to be able to further expand our presence in Ontario through this partnership with the Six Nations,” said Mike Garland, CEO of Pattern Energy. “The commissioning of the Grand Renewable Wind facility by the end of 2014 brings our number of Ontario facilities to two in operation, two in construction and two in late stage development, totaling 1,269 megawatts to be installed in the province by 2018. We would like to thank the Six Nations and the community of Haldimand for their support.”
“We’re proud to bring our proven technology to the Grand Renewable Wind project and to continue to provide Ontario with jobs, economic growth and affordable and sustainable wind energy,” said Jacob Andersen, Head of Wind Power Renewables, Siemens Canada Limited.
Grand Renewable Wind utilizes 67 Siemens 2.3 MW wind turbines with blades and towers that were made in Ontario. Siemens’ turbine blade facility in Tillsonburg manufactured the blades for the project and CS Wind’s facility in Windsor used Ontario-made steel to manufacture the turbine towers.
The Grand Renewable Wind facility had more than 500 workers on site during peak construction and created 12 full-time permanent positions for ongoing operations and maintenance. Over 98 percent of the workforce was comprised of workers from Ontario, which were involved in every aspect of the project – from manufacture and assembly of the wind turbine components to site construction, installation work and project operations. Altogether, Samsung and Pattern Energy’s wind power projects in Ontario are creating thousands of manufacturing and construction jobs, contributing significant property taxes in host communities, and providing millions of dollars for schools and important community projects.
In a historic first for Ontario, Samsung and Pattern Energy have entered into an equity partnership with Six Nations of the Grand River. The Six Nations community owns 10% of the Grand Renewable Wind project. Samsung and Pattern Energy also provided a $400,000 donation to the Grand River Post-Secondary Education Office, which will increase opportunities for Six Nations students.
Acting on their commitment to make a positive impact in their project communities, Samsung and Pattern Energy have introduced the more than $15 million Community Vibrancy Fund for Haldimand County. The fund will support local community, environment, health and wellness initiatives. The fund will provide a stable source of support over the next 20 years.
The electricity from Grand Renewable Wind, which is helping Ontario reach its clean energy goals, is committed to the Independent Electricity System Operator (IESO) under a 20-year power purchase agreement.
— Source: Pattern Energy
