Belle River wind power plant commissioned

TORONTO – Partners Samsung Renewable Energy, Inc. and Pattern Energy Group LP have announced the Belle River Wind power facility in Lakeshore in southwestern Ontario has reached the commissioning stage and is now up and running.

The 100 megawatt facility is expected to generate enough energy to power approximately 35,000 Ontario homes each year, notes a media statement.

The project provided jobs for more than 235 Ontario workers during construction and will employ 12 during operation.

Towers for the 40 Siemens 3.2-megawatt wind turbines were made at CS Wind’s manufacturing facility in Windsor, Ont. using Ontario steel. The 120 turbine blades were manufactured in Tillsonburg, Ont.

The owners also committed $6 million to the community of Lakeshore as part of a long-term Community Benefit program, which supports education and other initiatives, the release indicates.

This includes an initial contribution of $2 million and an annual contribution of $200,000 for the next 20 years.

The facility operates under a 20-year power purchase agreement with Ontario’s Independent Electricity System Operator.

"This is the fifth wind power facility we have completed in Ontario, and seventh across Canada, totalling nearly 1.3 gigawatts of operational capacity in the country, and we expect another project to reach completion this year in Quebec," said Mike Garland, CEO of Pattern Development, in the statement.