Cartier Wind Energy to make $2.9 million community investment as part of Baie-des-Sables wind power project
BAIE-DES-SABLES, QC, Dec. 19 /CNW Telbec/ - Cartier Wind Energy
("Cartier") is pleased to announce that it has today signed agreements with
the municipalities of Baie-des-Sables and M�tis-sur-Mer defining the voluntary
contributions Cartier will provide to each municipality during the 20-year
operation of Baie-des-Sables wind energy project. More than $2,400,000 will be
provided to Baie-des-Sables municipality and $478 000 to M�tis-sur-Mer
municipality over the operation period. The agreements were signed during an
official ceremony showing Cartier's commitment towards its projects' host
communities.
The voluntary contribution will be spread over 20 years and will be
allocated based on installed capacity in each municipality. Cartier will
provide $1,000 per installed megawatt (MW) as of the beginning of the
construction of the wind farm and an annual contribution of $1,000 per
installed MW during the operation of the wind farm. The municipalities are
free to use the funds at their discretion. In addition, Cartier will invest
$30,000 annually into a fund to help local non-profit organizations. The
agreements also include the creation of a committee that will monitor local
economic spin-offs during the construction and operation of the wind farm.
"These agreements reflect our attentiveness to community needs and are in
line with the values of Cartier Wind Energy. We are proud to contribute to the
economic development of Baie-des-Sables and M�tis-sur-Mer," said Mr. Gilles
Lefran�ois, Chairman of the Board of Cartier Wind Energy.
Cartier Wind Energy expects to receive environmental permits for the
Baie-des-Sables wind farm in early 2006, with construction work expected to
commence in spring 2006.
Cartier Wind Energy, which is headquartered in Longueuil, is a
partnership of TransCanada Corporation and Innergex II, a fund that also has
its head office in Longueuil. Cartier Wind Energy won 740 MW in wind energy
projects in Hydro-Qu�bec's first wind energy call for tenders for projects
that will be developed from 2006 to 2012. Cartier Wind Energy's projects
represent an investment of more than $1.1 billion.
For further information: Mr. Gilles Lefran�ois, Chairman of the Board,
Cartier Wind Energy, (450) 928-2550, ext. 243, info@innergex.com; Mr. Guy
Dufort, Vice President - Public Relations, (418) 834-6705,
info@innergex.com; TransCanada Corporation Website: www.transcanada.com;
Innergex II Website: www.innergex.com
