(Source: Diane Bailey, Wind Power Monthly V20 N3 March 2004) While Canadian wind power developers installed a record 90 MW of new capacity in 2003, perhaps the best indicator of the industry’s vitality lies in what is yet to come. By the end of the year, signs were strong that wind may finally be entering the period of sustained growth producers have been waiting for. “I think the prospects look very good, says Robert Hornung, president of the Canadian Wind Energy Association (CanWEA). “We’ve had a record year this past year, but I’m quite confident that 2004 will break that record and the year following will break it again.” A scan of the political landscape shows that Hornung has grounds for optimism. Ontario, one of North America’s largest power markets, is looking for 300 MW of renewable energy to be in service as soonn as possible, the first step in its plan to have 10% of all generating capacity come from renewables by 2010. Bids in Hydro-Quebec’s massive 1000 MW wind power request for proposals are due in June, while in Saskatchewan, the government-owned utility plans to meet all new load growth to 2010 with clean energy technologies, including 150 MW of wind. Next door, Manitoba Hydro utility has allocated 250 MW, nearly 5% of its current generating capacity, to wind development and is studying how much additional wind can feasibly be added to its hydro-dominated grid. In British Columbia, the government has decreed that half of all new power is to come from clean sources. Several provinces are also considering a renewables portfolio standard (RPS) in their electricity marketplaces. An RPS is regulation for a standard minimum amount of renewable energy in power supply portfolios, facilitated by a flexible system of tradable renewable energy credits. In Nova Scotia, the provincial government recently accepted the recommendation of a stakeholder task force calling for a target of 5% renewables by 2010, while Prince Edward Island has set a goal of at least 10% over the same time period. Alberta is aiming for 3.5% by 2008 and a larger, longer-term objective after that. New Brunswick says it will enact an RPS when it restructures its power market in the spring, but in the meantime New Brunswick Power has set its own target of 100 MW of wind by 2010. While Newfoundland’s isolated grid has more than enough supply to meet demand until the end of the decade, the government is still planning to move ahead with a 25 MW wind demonstration project. Up north, Nunavut Power is in discussion with two groups about a long term wind development program for the northern territory.
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