The contribution of wind power to Canada’s electricity supply is expected to grow by almost 20 per cent in 2012.The Canadian Wind Energy Association (CanWEA) expects new turbines to add almost 1.2GW of clean energy to the grid’s capability this year.
This marks the second consecutive year with more than 1GW of new installed capacity.
CanWEA’s analysis suggests that every 1GW that is added stimulates investment worth C$2.5bn ($2.5bn), creates a combined 10,500 years of employment and provides power for around 300,000 homes.
New developments are springing up all over the country, although more than 60 per cent of 2012’s new capacity will be added to Quebec.
Robert Hornung, president of CanWEA, said, ‘Wind energy continues to prove it is a reliable and affordable partner as provinces seek to diversify and clean their electricity supplies and avoid the high costs and cost overruns associated with some other forms of energy.
‘Ontario’s wind energy industry continues to create good new jobs for Ontario’s manufacturing sector in places like Hamilton, Niagara, Chatham and Tillsonburg, but we are really just getting started. With political leadership and continued policy stability, wind energy will deliver on its promise of providing the clean, safe electricity that Canadians want.’
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