Wind Energy Powers Alberta Transit System

A transit system in the centre of Canada’s oil sector is powered by wind energy.

CALGARY, Alberta, CA, 2001-09-17 [SolarAccess.com] Calgary Transit has launched its ‘Ride the Wind!’ project that uses renewable energy for the city’s Light Rail Transit System. The initiative was launched in collaboration with ENMAX Energy Corp and Vision Quest Windelectric Inc. Calgary Transit is the first public transit system in North America to power its LRT with wind-generated electricity. “This is a great day for Calgary Transit, our customers and the environment as we begin riding the wind,” says general manager John Hubbell. “We are a leader in this area and proud of the fact that our customers can ride the C-Train knowing we have taken this significant step towards reducing the environmental impact of urban transportation.” ENMAX provides the green power through its Greenmax Program. The electricity is generated by 12 wind turbines installed by Vision Quest at the Castle River windfarm in southern Alberta. “We’ve made history again today,” says Sean Durfy of ENMAX Energy. “ENMAX was the first Canadian company to offer customers a wind-generated electricity option, and now with ‘Ride the Wind!’, we’re the first company in North America to supply wind power to fuel an entire LRT system.” The C-Train system now is completely free of emissions, and the transition contributes significantly toward the City of Calgary’s goal to reduce its corporate CO2 emissions. “We are extremely proud of the collaboration with Calgary Transit and ENMAX in Ride the Wind!,” adds Fred Gallagher of Vision Quest. “This project is a milestone in zero emissions transportation, and Calgary is the leader In North America.” C-Train operations consume 21,000 megawatt hours of electricity a year, which is half of Calgary Transit’s total electrical power needs. Using wind power will avoid the emission of 26,000 tonnes of CO2 each year, compared with the combustion of coal or natural gas to generate the electricity for the LRT. Earlier this year, Calgary Transit won an award from the Federation of Canadian Municipalities for its leadership in renewable energy with its ‘Ride the Wind’ project.