SEATTLE, WASHINGTON — (Marketwire) — 05/30/12 — ecoTECH Energy Group Inc. (OTCBB: ECTH), headquartered in Seattle, WA, is pleased to announce that it recently was invited to a Jobs, Tourism & Innovation meeting in Blue River, BC, Canada. The meeting was in support of the Robson and Thompson Valley–s Corridor Jobs Creation Initiative. As part of the thrust to create socio-economic benefit in the corridor, 3 cabinet ministers were in attendance hosting the meeting – The Honourable Shirley Bond, The Honourable Pat Bell and The Honourable Terry Lake. After explaining several government backed initiatives to allow speedier progress for industry and tourism in the valleys, Attorney General Shirley Bond made a surprise announcement that Mr. Dan Doyle, OBC, Chairman of BC Hydro was joining the meeting and had an announcement to make. The Chairman of BC Hydro announced that as its commitment to this project, BC Hydro will fund approximately $50 million worth of system upgrades at the Valemount substation, the planned McBride substation and the microwave control towers that are required for the transmission line to McBride, BC, Canada.
In addition to the transmission line, BC Hydro will begin negotiating Electricity Purchase Agreements with clean energy producers in the region, one of which is ecoTECH.
ecoTECH presented its plan alongside Holmes Hydro and Snowshoe Power Ltd. Holmes Hydro is a co-financing partner in the Transmission line with ecoTECH and has already provided several detailed components for the Transmission line to be put in. Holmes and Snowshoe will be providing ROR (run of river) power to the line with ecoTECH providing power and shaping the power with a biomass power station. During freshet when Holmes is at full capacity, ecoTECH will do its maintenance and during the cold freeze, ecoTECH–s CHP station will be running at full capacity.
Currently, the Village of McBride receives electricity service via an 85 kilometre distribution line originating in Valemount. The line is at its maximum capacity and the region experiences more frequent outages than the provincial average. In July 2010, the Robson Valley Task Force was established of which ecoTECH was a participant to evaluate opportunities to improve electricity service and foster economic development in the Robson Valley.
As a result of the work of the Task Force, BC Hydro (), in conjunction with the Ministry of Jobs, Tourism and Innovation, has now identified that the most cost-effective option for extending the transmission system to McBride is to construct a new 138 kilovolt transmission line from the existing Valemount Substation and build a new substation in the McBride area.
“The announcement today is a result of years of work as an MLA with mayors and council, power producers, economic development officers, BC Hydro and the provincial government. The need for additional capacity and service reliability has been a significant issue for residents and industry alike. A new transmission line will help create jobs, secure power and act as a badly needed catalyst for economic development in the Robson Valley,” commented Shirley Bond, MLA Prince George-Valemount and Attorney General for British Columbia.
The following people were present at the May 22nd Jobs, Tourism and Innovation meeting in Blue River, BC, Canada:
Honourable Shirley Bond – Minister of Public Safety and Solicitor General – Prince George-Valemount
Honourable Pat Bell – Minister of Jobs, Tourism and Innovation – Prince George-Mackenzie
Honourable Terry Lake – Minister of Environment – Kamloops-North Thompson
Dan Doyle, OBC, Chairman of BC Hydro
Janine North, Northern Development Initiative Trust CEO & BC Hydro Director
Alison Coyne, JTI Director, Robson & Thompson Valley Corridor Pilot Program & JTI staff members, deputy ministers & ADMs.
Colin Hall & Anne Sanders, ecoTECH Energy Group Inc.
Holmes Hydro: Duke Peterson
Snowshoe Power: Rick Lucking
Village of McBride: Mayor Mike Frazier, EDO Margaret Graine, Village Administration Director Eliana Clements, Councillor Rick Thompson, Al Fredericks
Village of Valemount: Mayor Andru McCracken and staff
District of Barriere: Mayor Bill Humphreys & staff
District of Frazer Fort George: Art Kaehn, Chairman, Ken Starchuk, Director – Section H (McBride region), Terry McEachan, Manager – Section H
BC Hydro Director Chris Heminsley
Sam Phillips, Simpcw First Nation Energy Spokesman
Daniel Betts, Editor: Valley Sentinel Newspaper
Mike Wiegele–s staff & Wiegele Helicopter Skiing President Michelle Wiegele (Facilities Host)
About ecoTECH Energy Group, Inc.
ecoTECH Energy Group, Inc. is a development-stage renewable energy company which plans to manufacture biomass-fueled power stations that produce renewable and sustainable “green” energy products. ecoTECH specializes in the development and operations of thermal, 24/7, “firm” electricity supply from “zero-carbon-footprint” power stations which utilize proprietary ecoTECH technologies that have been continuously improved and refined over the past 30 years. ecoTECH intends to build five Combined Heat and Power Stations across North America during the next five to seven years. More information about the Company may be found at .
Notice regarding forward-looking statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements that may be subject to various risks and uncertainties. Such forward-looking statements are made pursuant to the “safe harbor” provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and may include statements regarding our future financial performance or results of operations, including expected revenue growth. Unless otherwise required by law, we undertake no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise after the date of this press release. Additional information concerning risks and uncertainties that would cause actual results to differ materially from those projected or suggested in the forward-looking statements can be found in the reports that we have filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
Contacts:
ecoTECH Energy Group, Inc.
Investor Relations
(213) 254-2440