Edmonton, Alberta-based Capital Power Corp.'s Quality Wind Project has been awarded an energy purchase agreement (EPA) by BC Hydro.
The 142 MW wind power project will be located in northeastern British Columbia and developed by an indirect wholly owned subsidiary of Capital Power. The project is expected to cost C$455 million.
The energy generated by Quality Wind will be sold under a 25-year EPA with BC Hydro. Commercial operation is expected to commence no later than spring 2013.
The Quality Wind project design currently calls for 79 turbines on a site located about 10 km northeast of Tumbler Ridge, British Columbia. The proposed site is near Highway 52, which provides relatively good access for construction, according to the company.
‘Subject to the completion of the review process, we believe that the physical characteristics of the area would allow us to build and operate the project with a minimum of environmental and stakeholder impacts,’ says Keith Boutcher, a director of business development at Capital Power.
Construction of the Quality Wind project will be subject to regulatory approvals, including completion of the provincial environmental assessment process and approval of the EPA by the British Columbia Utilities Commission.
The project is currently being reviewed under British Columbia's Environmental Assessment Act. An application for an environmental assessment certificate has been filed with the British Columbia Environmental Assessment Office, and a formal 180-day review process, including open houses, is near completion.
SOURCE: Capital Power Corp. Â
