EDF EN Canada Inc. - an EDF Energies Nouvelles Company (PARIS: EEN), announced it has signed two 20-year power purchase agreements (PPA) with Hydro-Québec for wind energy projects totalling 49.2 MW. EDF EN Canada Inc. has joined with MRC du Granit and MRC de la Mitis for the development of two 24.6 MW wind projects, respectively. Hydro-Québec awarded the projects in December 2010 as a result of the 2009 Hydro-Québec call for tenders, which was focused on community projects. Both projects will utilize the REpower 2.05 MW turbine with anticipation of electricity delivered in late 2014.
"The signing of the PPAs marks another success for EDF EN Canada Inc. following the recent acquisition of the remaining ownership interest of Montreal based Saint Laurent Energies (SLE)," said Al Kurzenhauser, Vice President of EDF EN Canada Inc. "SLE will manage the development and construction of these two community projects from EDF EN Canada Inc.'s Montreal office."
"The last 4 years have been very difficult for our region especially for the manufacturing and logging industries, where the outlook is very bleak. Wind energy has much to offer to our communities," declared André St-Marseille, President of Énergie du Granit Inc. "It's an additional source of revenue which will also create jobs within our county. We are very proud to be partners in this project."
"For our municipalities, the wind from our county will generate an interesting source of revenue and the signing of the contract with Hydro-Quebec Distribution has brought this partnership full circle. We are very proud to be working with EDF EN Canada and Saint-Laurent Énergies." said Michel Côté, Prefect of the MRC de La Mitis.
EDF EN Canada Inc. now has over 1 GW of wind energy in development in Quebec, including five wind projects totaling 954 MW which were won in the 2007 Hydro-Québec RFP. Construction of the first of these five projects is expected to commence in the second half of 2011 with operations between 2012 and 2015.
The PPAs are subject to approval by the Quebec Energy Board. Construction will commence following the obtainment of all required governmental and municipal permits, approvals and environmental authorizations