Wind. For My Community. Powering BC with emissions-free electricity while creating jobs and delivering local benefits.

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1 Wind. For My Community. Powering BC with emissions-free electricity while creating jobs and delivering local benefits.

2 Like elsewhere in Canada and in over 80 countries around the world, wind energy is an abundant and affordable source of clean electricity that is becoming an increasingly important part of British Columbia s energy supply mix. BC s first wind farm started commercial operations in November Today, the province has almost 500 MW of installed wind energy capacity, supplying 2 per cent of the province s domestic electricity demand. BC ranks fourth in Canada for installed wind energy capacity, and with abundant, though mostly untapped, world-class resources, it is poised to become a national leader. Energy demand in BC is set to increase dramatically as the province s resource sector expands. Wind energy is one of the cleanest, lowest-cost sources of emissions-free electricity in British Columbia. It complements and diversifies BC s conventional hydroelectric power sources, and provides a hedge against volatile natural gas prices while also helping to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and fight climate change. Wind energy can play an important role in making BC s liquefied natural gas (LNG) sector the cleanest in the world. Wind energy is producing other benefits in BC, too. Successful host communities benefit from growth in tax revenues, economic diversification, First Nations opportunities, and employment for local trades people and contractors. Here are just a few of BC s success stories... Photo courtesy of Trent Ernst Photo courtesy of AltaGas Cover photo courtesy of Capital Power

3 Peace River Regional District Wind Farm: Bear Mountain Wind Park Highlights: New tax revenue, local jobs, educational opportunities AltaGas 102 MW Bear Mountain Wind Park, located near Dawson Creek, is BC s first fully-operational wind park. The park is strongly supported by the local community as a symbol of innovative, progressive thinking that has made their city a sustainability leader. Bear Mountain features 34 ENERCON 3 MW wind turbines, which stand along a narrow ridge visible from town and deliver enough clean electricity to power most of BC s South Peace region. The site covers close to 25 hectares and is still used for cattle grazing and for hiking, snowmobiling, cross country skiing and other recreational activities. The wind park has also brought many economic benefits to the region. AltaGas invested $200 million in the project, $12 million of which was spent in the region. Local construction workers and contractors helped build the project, creating 120 jobs during the construction phase. Today, the wind park employs seven full-time staff in operations and maintenance. Bear Mountain is expected to generate $9 million in tax revenue for the Peace River Regional District over the life of its 25-year contract with BC Hydro. AltaGas also pays annual royalties to the Peace Energy Cooperative, a community-based group that initiated the project, and will make lease payments to the province for use of the land. The wind park is generating other benefits as well, in tourism and education. Northern Lights College for example, has started offering a Wind Turbine Maintenance Technician program at its Dawson Creek campus. As the former mayor, and now the MLA, I have seen fi rst hand the benefi ts to our local region because of the development of wind projects. The Bear Mountain wind project should be a model for others to emulate as it incorporated environmental best practices, along with amazing community outreach and support for the project. As the fi rst wind development project not only in the Peace Region, but in British Colombia, AltaGas did a superb job of educating people on what wind energy is, the opportunities for the area s economy, and the environmental benefi ts for all. This project was a success because of the hard work and partnership with community groups and the proponents working together to ensure the fi nal project is one that everyone could be proud of. And we are. Mike Bernier, MLA Peace River South Photo courtesy of AltaGas

4 Vancouver Island Wind Farm: Cape Scott Wind Farm Highlights: $51 million injected into the local economy during construction, First Nations benefi ts The 99 MW Cape Scott Wind Farm, located on the Knob Hill Plateau on the northern tip of Vancouver Island, is the first to be built in BC s coastal region. Its 55 Vestas 1.8 MW turbines are installed across 4,000 hectares of Crownowned land within the traditional territories of the Kwakiutl, Quatsino and Tlatlasikwala First Nations, who both support and benefit from the project. Partnering with the Lemare Group, they created 3 Nations Construction to build a large part of the project s roads and earthworks. Many other local companies also supplied goods and services to Cape Scott as it was being built, with more than $51 million injected into a local economy hard hit by downturns in the forestry, mining and fishing sectors. The $325- million project created more than 300 jobs at the peak of construction, with about 25 per cent of those filled locally, in addition to 12 permanent operations and maintenance positions at the facility. Photo courtesy of GDF SUEZ Northeastern BC Wind Farm: Quality Wind Project Highlights: $100 million in tax revenue and royalties, 360,000 person-hours of direct employment The 142 MW Quality Wind Project, located deep in the eastern foothills of the Rocky Mountains, is helping the nearby resource town of Tumbler Ridge diversify its economy by providing a stable source of employment and a new, long-term tax base. Quality Wind s owner, Capital Power, and its turbine supplier, Vestas, have full-time personnel based out of a new office in Tumbler Ridge. Tax payments and royalties to the province, region and town will add up to an estimated $100 million over the estimated 25-year life of the facility. Construction of the project s 79 Vestas 1.8 MW turbines, installed across 1,720 hectares of Crown land about 10 kilometres northeast of the town, created more than 360,000 person-hours of direct employment and 80,000 of indirect employment. At the peak of construction, there were about 280 workers on site. Local businesses and contractors lent their expertise to Quality Wind, and a number of area First Nations also played a significant role. Duz Cho Construction, owned by the McLeod Lake Indian Band, was heavily involved in the civil works component of the project and their knowledge of ground conditions in the area proved vital for road construction. Capital Power also worked closely with local paleontologists to implement BC s first documented fossil discovery procedure. Photo courtesy of Eye for Detail Photo courtesy of Trent Ernst

5 Our experience with the Cape Scott Wind Farm has been a very positive one. From the get go GDF SUEZ ensured the community was engaged and consulted on all potential impacts, ensuring public awareness and support. Local services were maximized whenever possible with benefi ts to the local economy and infrastructure. The future looks bright for additional wind farm development on Northern Vancouver Island and we would welcome it. Rick Davidge, Chief Administrative Officer, District of Port Hardy Photo courtesy of Capital Power It s quite exciting in terms of a new industry for our region. It s critically important. If you look back at the history of Tumbler Ridge to the early 2000s when we had the mine closures, we nearly lost the community. One of the lessons learned through that was the need to diversify our economy. With wind power you have 25 years of predictable taxation and jobs, which is important to build around. Mayor Darwin Wren, Town of Tumbler Ridge

6 Responsible. Sustainable. For all of these projects, an essential element of their success has been an open and responsive relationship with the communities in which they are located. As the voice of Canada s wind energy sector, CanWEA s mission is to actively promote that same kind of responsible and sustainable growth throughout our industry. A national non-profit association, CanWEA serves as Canada s leading source of credible information on wind energy and its social, economic and environmental benefits. Join the conversation at WindFacts.ca Share your support for wind energy today by visiting friendsofwind.ca Canadian Wind Energy