Canada Eyes Record Year for Wind in 2008

With an anticipated minimum installation of another 700 MW in 2008, representing more than $1.5 billion in investment, the country is poised to set a new record for annual installed wind energy capacity. These 2008 installations have already begun with the commissioning of Sky Generation's 10 MW Ravenswood project in January, the first to be constructed under Ontario's Renewable Energy Standard Offer Program.

"Wind energy must be a key component of any Canadian strategy to address climate change and Canada has still only scratched the surface of its massive wind energy potential," said Robert Hornung, President, Canadian Wind Energy Association (CanWEA). "Although wind energy is growing rapidly in Canada, other countries continue to view wind energy as a strategic resource and are moving much more quickly to support its deployment. If Canada is to become a 'global clean energy leader' and capture the multiple economic and environmental benefits of wind energy, federal and provincial governments must start to 'think big' about wind energy and make it a core element of their future energy development strategies."