Greentech Lead America: Samsung Renewable Energy and Pattern Energy Group have secured financing for the construction of 270 megawatt (MW) South Kent Wind project.
The South Kent Wind project will provide renewable energy equal to the needs of approximately 100,000 homes each year. This project is an important part of Samsung’s $7-billionÂ
South Kent Wind will utilize 124 Ontario-made turbines, including towers manufactured by Ontarians at CS Wind’s factory in Windsor and blades manufactured by Ontarians at Siemens’ factory in Tillsonburg.
There will be an average of 300 workers on-site throughout project construction and approximately 500 workers during peak construction periods.
The project will also bring significant community benefits and generate substantial tax revenues for the Municipality of Chatham-Kent over the next 20 years, benefiting local schools and the overall community, the company said.
Through this investment, Samsung and its partners are establishing four manufacturing facilities in Windsor, Toronto, Tillsonburg and London, creating 900 new manufacturing jobs and 16,000 jobs overall in communities hit hard by the global recession.
Compared to coal-fired generation, the South Kent Wind project will offset approximately 842,000 tonnes of CO2 each year, the equivalent of taking nearly 135,000 cars off the roads, and conserve enough water to meet the needs of approximately 23,600 Ontarians.
Samsung and Pattern are making significant progress on three other wind energy projects in Ontario. Together, these four projects will create 870 MW of renewable energy for the Ontario Power Authority (OPA), enough clean energy to power more than 300,000 homes in Ontario each year.
The additional three projects are the 150 MW Grand Renewable Energy Park in Haldimand County, the 270 MW K2 Wind project in the Township of Ashfield-Colborne-Wawanosh and the 180 MW Armow Wind project in the Municipality of Kincardine.