Wind energy in Canada to grow nearly 20% in 2012

CanWEA expects new wind energy projects to add almost 1,200 MW of clean energy by the close of 2012.

Wind energy’s contribution of clean power to the country’s electricity supply is expected to grow by nearly 20 percent by the end of 2012, the Canadian Wind Energy Association (CanWEA) says.

 

In 2012, Canada will see wind energy projects commissioned in British Columbia, Alberta, Ontario, Quebec and Nova Scotia in 2012. Over 60 percent of Canada’s new wind energy capacity in 2012 will be installed in Quebec.

 

Canada will have over 6,400 MW of installed wind energy capacity by the end of 2012. Ontario will remain the provincial leader with over 2,000 MW; Quebec and Alberta will follow with approximately 1,600 MW and 1,100 MW respectively. Nova Scotia has proven itself a leader in the establishment of a program to support community-based wind energy.

 

Saskatchewan, Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island are all moving forward with new requests for wind energy in 2012 and projects are currently under construction in several provinces, particularly Quebec and Ontario.

“There are many examples of leadership in supporting renewable energy across Canada, but we must see more action by governments in British Columbia and Alberta to capitalize on those provinces’ enormous wind energy potential,” says CanWEA President Robert Hornung. “Canada can be a world leader in producing clean energy that reduces our greenhouse-gas emissions. This is not about tomorrow or some future that we can dream about – this is about taking responsibility today.”

http://www.canwea.ca/