Greentech Lead America: GE said its wind turbines have
been selected to power nine wind projects in Ontario, Canada, adding
approximately 650 MW of clean energy to the electricity grid.
By 2015, GE wind turbines will be delivering
approximately 1,200 MW of wind energy in Ontario, which is enough to power
320,000 homes.
“The Green Energy Act has created a very positive
investment environment and helped fuel the growth of GE and renewable energy in
Canada. For GE it’s a remarkable story. In seven years we have grown from our
first 100-megawatt Erie Shores Wind farm project to supplying over a thousand
megawatts of clean energy to residents and businesses across Ontario by 2015,”
said Simon Olivier, general manager sales, Renewable Energy for GE Canada.
To date GE has announced more than $150 million of
investments in Ontario. It created three global centers of excellence.
GE is also working with Ontario-based businesses that are
providing products and services supporting wind farm projects and stimulating
new local job creation in multiple regions of Ontario.
Canada has increased its wind power capacity nearly
tenfold in the last six years. The Canadian Wind Energy Association (CanWEA)
expects that wind energy’s rapid growth in Canada will continue, with
production tripling over the next five years.
In 2009, GE Canada signed a memorandum of understanding
with the Ontario government to undertake long term investments including
investments in research and development and advanced manufacturing in order to
enhance economic development in the province.
GE said its wind turbine technology is qualified under
ecomagination, the company’s commitment to address challenges such as the need
for cleaner, more efficient sources of energy, reduced emissions and abundant
sources of clean water.