CALGARY, ALBERTA — (Marketwired) — 09/30/13 — Calgary-based NaturEner Energy Canada Inc., a renewable energy company, announces that it received approval from the Alberta Utilities Commission (“AUC”) on September 13 of its amendments to the permits for the wind power project (“Wild Rose 1”). The amendments approve the use of the Alstom , while reducing the number of turbines, the size of the project area, and the amount of disturbance to native pasture.
is a 210 MW project located on approximately 9,000 acres of private agricultural and grazing lands southeast of the City of Medicine Hat in Cypress County, Alberta. NaturEner has entered into agreements with Alstom to supply , along with 10 years of maintenance services. NaturEner will install 70 of the ECO 110 3.0 MW turbines at Wild Rose 1.
“NaturEner has invested significant resources over many years to develop Wild Rose 1. With the amended permits reflecting the Alstom turbines, we are excited to move ahead with the commercialization and construction phases. NaturEner continues to be grateful for the ongoing support of area landowners and regional organizations,” said Greg Copeland, Vice President Wind Energy Development of NaturEner.
“Not only does Wild Rose 1 signify Alstom–s entry into the Canadian wind energy market, it demonstrates the foundation of partnership and collaboration at the heart of our customer relationships,” according to Andy Geissbuehler, head of Alstom–s North American Wind business. “Working side-by-side with NaturEner, our experts have helped optimize the project in a way that boosts Canada–s production of clean wind energy while minimizing impacts on the local landscape. The result is a testament to the concept of sustainable development, and Alstom is proud to play a role in bringing it to fruition.”
NaturEner is working with an investment bank to raise capital to enable construction of the project and has engaged Evolution Markets to broker the sale of environmental attributes generated by Wild Rose 1 and Wild Rose 2. In addition, NaturEner is in active negotiations on long-term energy sales from the projects. This robust portfolio of contracts will facilitate financing of the projects during the fourth quarter of 2013, and start of construction in early 2014.
Wild Rose 2 could start construction approximately one year later, subject to the timely approval of required amendments. Wild Rose 1 and Wild Rose 2 will, on a combined basis, be the largest wind farms in Canada, with an aggregate installed generation capacity of approximately 400 MW.
Alstom–s role as for both projects was announced in March of 2013.
About NaturEner
NaturEner Energy Canada Inc. and its affiliate NaturEner USA, LLC are wholly-owned subsidiaries of Spain-based . Together, they have developed renewable energy facilities in three different countries comprising mini-hydro, solar photovoltaic, and utility-scale wind.
NaturEner owns and operates the combined 210 MW & projects, located near Ethridge, Montana and the 189 MW , located near Kevin, Montana.
NaturEner manages and integrates the production from its Glacier and Rim Rock projects through its wind-only Balancing Authorities, and WindWatch, operated from (NOC), a fully enabled, state-of-the-art, 24/7 facility. The NOC was developed for the purpose of supporting both commercial and operational functions for NaturEner–s operating projects and transmission assets, including the northbound capacity on the Montana-Alberta Tie Line (MATL), which opens a new pathway between the Mid-C and AESO markets.
Contacts:
NaturEner
Maria Luisa Beveridge
415.217.5509