ENMAX Marks Milestone with Canadian Hydro Contract
October 10, 2001
CALGARY, ALBERTA, OCTOBER 10, 2001 -- Canadian Hydro Developers, Inc. and ENMAX Corporation, today announced that ENMAX Energy, a wholly owned subsidiary of ENMAX, will purchase 35,000 megawatt hours of electricity annually from Canadian Hydro's new Cowley Ridge North and Sinnott wind plants.
The five-year contract, representing approximately 50 per cent of the output from Canadian Hydro's new 20-turbine (26 megawatt) facility near Pincher Creek in southern Alberta, marks another milestone for ENMAX Energy. ENMAX Energy now ensures that more than 100,000-megawatt hours of wind-generated electricity is produced for Albertans and distributed through the Power Pool of Alberta. Financial details of the transaction are confidential.
Construction is already complete on ten of the turbines at Cowley Ridge North. Interconnection with the Alberta electricity grid occurred on September 14 and the first turbine began producing power on September 17.
"Canadian Hydro is very eager to pursue joint marketing opportunities with ENMAX Energy for the supply of wind power. ENMAX Energy is a leader in offering customers a choice to support renewable energy. We are delighted Canadian Hydro will be supplying ENMAX Energy with clean, wind-generated electricity," said John Keating, CEO of Canadian Hydro.
"As ENMAX heads into changing times, one of the things that remains constant is our commitment to Albertans to provide them with innovative products and services such as Greenmax - the first program in Canada to offer customers the opportunity to support wind power," said Sean Durfy, ENMAX Energy vice-president and chief operating officer. "This contract with Canadian Hydro reinforces our commitment to the development of renewable, wind-generated power."
ENMAX Energy, the unregulated, retail arm of the ENMAX organization, has signed power contracts with new commercial customers across the province since electricity deregulation got fully under way on January 1, 2001, increasing total energy sales by more than 25 per cent so far this year, compared to 2000 sales levels.
ENMAX Corporation, a wholly owned subsidiary of The City of Calgary, provides electricity, natural gas and value-added services to more than 400,000 residential, commercial and industrial customers in Alberta through its subsidiary companies.
Canadian Hydro is a developer and operator of eleven existing electrical generating facilities: nine "run of river" hydroelectric plants, one wind plant and one gas-fired plant. These plants, representing 62 MW (net) of capacity, are located in British Columbia, Alberta and Ontario. The Company is presently engaged in construction of 26 MW of wind capacity in southern Alberta and 30 MW of run of river hydro in BC. All of Canadian Hydro's wind and water plants are certified under the EcoLogo(TM) certification program.
Canadian Hydro is committed to the concept of low-impact power generation. Through its wind, run-of-river hydro, and gas-fired facilities, Canadian Hydro is demonstrating that commitment to the benefit of the environment and its shareholders. |
