Canada Passes 1,000 MW of Installed Wind Energy Capacity
July 13, 2006
Ottawa, Ontario [RenewableEnergyAccess.com] Canada has now become the 12th country in the world to surpass 1,000 megawatts (MW) of installed wind energy capacity. With 1,049 MW of installed capacity now in place, wind energy produces enough electricity to meet the needs of more than 315,000 Canadian homes.
"Canada's provincial governments are now targeting to have a minimum of 9,000 MW of wind energy production in place by 2015 and many are currently examining the possibilities of going further."
-- Robert Hornung, Canadian Wind Energy Association, president As of June 2006, Canada had installed a record 365 MW of wind energy capacity this year, and this number will increase before the year is out.
"The 1,000 MW milestone is another clear signal that wind energy has moved from the margin to the mainstream in Canada, and our record-breaking 2006 is laying the foundation for much more significant growth in the years ahead," said Robert Hornung, president of the Canadian Wind Energy Association.
"Canada's provincial governments are now targeting to have a minimum of 9,000 MW of wind energy production in place by 2015 and many are currently examining the possibilities of going further. In fact, British Columbia is the only province that has no wind energy facilities operating or contracted at this time," Hornung added.
"Even though the growth of Canada's wind energy industry is impressive, we must not lose sight of the fact that wind energy continues to develop more quickly in other countries. Spain, for example, had 1,000 MW of installed wind energy capacity in 2000, and is now on track for 20,000 MW of installed wind energy capacity by 2010," said Hornung.
"With Canada's unparalleled wind resource, there are clear opportunities to do more to maximize the economic, industrial development, and environmental benefits associated with wind energy for Canada," he added.
The Canadian Wind Energy Association (CanWEA)'s goal is to have 10,000 MW of wind energy capacity either contracted on installed in Canada by 2010
