Natural Resources Canada

ELMIRA, PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND--(Marketwire - Aug. 21, 2008) - The Government of Canada is investing in renewable energy projects across Prince Edward Island, thanks to investments in projects through the ecoENERGY for Renewable Power Program.

Mike Allen, Member of Parliament for Tobique-Mactaquac, on behalf of the Honourable Gary Lunn, Minister of Natural Resources, today announced a second project at the East Point Wind Plant at the northeastern tip of King's County in P.E.I. The East Point Wind Plant will benefit from an investment of up to $9 million over 10 years, thanks to the Government of Canada.

"We need energy to power our economy, but we must have more clean energy to protect our health and our environment," said Mr. Allen. "Our support for the East Point Wind Plant is another example of how our government is delivering on its commitment to an aggressive but balanced approach to reducing emissions-increasing the supply of clean, renewable energy for Canadians, and accelerating the development of a strong, competitive renewable energy industry."

The 10 turbines at the East Point Wind Plant have a total generating capacity of 30 megawatts-enough clean electricity to meet more than seven percent of Prince Edward Island's total electricity needs. The $50-million project, developed by the PEI Energy Corporation, will receive the one cent per kilowatt-hour incentive under the ecoENERGY for Renewable Power program for up to 10 years.

The PEI Energy Corporation is a provincial Crown Corporation responsible for pursuing and promoting the economic development of energy production, transmission and distribution. The Corporation is also the Government of Canada's major partner in the Wind Energy Institute of Canada, located at North Cape, P.E.I. East Point is the Corporation's second wind-energy project.

"The development of clean renewable wind-generated electricity is vital to Prince Edward Island and our province sees an opportunity to develop this resource for domestic use and for export to markets not blessed with our wind regime. The federal government has always been an important partner in our development of reliable, economical wind power," said George Webster, Minister of Environment, Energy and Forestry. "The Renewable Power program will contribute $900,000 a year to the bottom line of the East Point Wind Plant. This support makes it that much easier for Prince Edward Island to maintain its role as North America's leader in the adoption of wind-generated power."

Five renewable energy projects were also announced in British Columbia and Alberta under the ecoENERGY for Renewable programs.

Businesses, municipalities, institutions and organizations are eligible to apply for funding under ecoENERGY for Renewable Power. The Program provides about $1.48 billion to increase Canada's supply of clean electricity from renewable sources such as wind, biomass, low-impact hydro, geothermal, solar photovoltaic and ocean energy. It will encourage the production of up to 4,000 megawatts of new electricity from renewable energy sources-enough electricity to power about one million homes.

FOR BROADCAST USE:

The Government of Canada has announced that the East Point Wind Plant will receive up to $9 million in funding under the Government of Canada's ecoENERGY for Renewable Power Program.

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