First Enel Green Power wind park in Canada

The St. Lawrence plant was opened on island of Newfoundland

Enel Green Power has opened St. Lawrence, the first wind farm in Canada, on the island of Newfoundland. The plant has a capacity of 27 MW, and is able to cover the electricity consumption of about 6,800 families.

The St. Lawrence Canadian wind farm will prevent the burning of 165,000 barrels of oil a year in the nearby thermal power plant at Holyrood, and will help reduce greenhouse gases for an estimated amount of 80,000 tons a year.

The Province of Newfoundland and Labrador has been chosen as the site of the plant because it is one of the windiest areas of the country. The electricity will be generated through nine 3 MW turbines, provided by Vestas, it will be sold to Nalcor Energy through Newfoundland Power and the Newfoundland and Labrador networks system.

Furthermore, the Government of Canada announced its intention to contribute to the project with funds amounting to 8,3 million dollars through the EcoENERGY program for the promotion of renewable sources.

“Our hope, with the St. Lawrence wind plant, is to demonstrates the essential role that wind power will play in future economic development of the province”, said Toni Volpe, Head of the American Area of Enel Green Power.

 The representative of the Canadian Ministry of Natural Resources, Senator Fabian Manning, said that the plant helps generate new economic activities and create new jobs in the province.

The wind plant is the second plant operated by Enel in the Province, which is already home of the Star Lake hydroelectric plant.

(September 2009)