AMQUI, QUEBEC--(Marketwired - Sept. 18, 2013) - EDF EN Canada Inc., a subsidiary of EDF Energies Nouvelles, and Enbridge Inc. (TSX:ENB) (NYSE:ENB), along with over 100 attendees, dedicated the 300 megawatt (MW) Lac-Alfred Wind Project today. The project is the third to be placed into service for the EDF EN Canada and Enbridge partnership, bringing total installed wind capacity in Quebec to 530 MWs.
Construction of Lac-Alfred commenced in June 2011 and reached commercial operation in two phases: Phase 1 (150 MW) in January, 2013; and Phase 2 (150 MW) in August 2013. In total, EDF EN Canada will develop and build 1,003.2 MW through seven wind energy projects awarded to EDF EN Canada through Hydro-Quebec call for tenders. This project represents one of four wind projects jointly owned by EDF EN Canada and Enbridge.
With an investment of about CAD $700 million, the project created more than 350 jobs during the peak construction phase, and around 15 permanent operation and maintenance jobs. Lac-Alfred generates enough clean electricity to meet the needs of about 70,000 Quebec homes.
"A project of this magnitude comes as a result of several years of work by a dedicated team of professionals, a quality relationship with Hydro-Quebec and more importantly the support and involvement of the local communities," said Antoine Cahuzac, CEO, EDF Energies Nouvelles. "I am proud to take part in this dedication and extend my congratulations to the EDF EN Canada team not only for the completion of the largest wind project for our company, but also for their vision of renewable energy and priorities to develop and build each project with attention to safety and responsibility to the local environment. The Lac-Alfred project represents a best practice in wind farm development."
Al Kurzenhauser, COO, EDF EN Canada added, "Over the next 20 years of this contract with Hydro-Quebec, the local municipalities will receive a combined contribution of $750,000 annually. We offer our sincere gratitude to the local communities for their support and enthusiasm of this magnificent project. Furthermore, we acknowledge the outstanding efforts of the development, engineering, construction and commissioning teams who rose to the challenge and set a new standard for being ahead of schedule, and on budget."
"The Lac-Alfred Wind Project, in partnership with the municipalities, the regional county municipalities (MRC), the local development centers (CLD) and businesses in the region have greatly contributed to the economic development of the electoral district of Matane-Matapédia," indicated the Minister of Tourism, minister responsible for the Bas-Saint-Laurent region, and deputy for Matane-Matapédia, Mr. Pascal Bérubé. "The benefits of this project are important for our community since they are not only financial but also enable us to develop an expertise in this rapidly expanding sector of excellence. Consequently, our region is well positioned as a leader in wind power development in Quebec."
"Enbridge has been investing in Quebec's energy infrastructure for nearly 40 years," said Richard Bird, Executive Vice President, CFO & Corporate Development, Enbridge. "As a longtime partner, we're proud to continue building strong relationships and further expand our presence in Quebec through this investment."
"The successful completion of Lac Alfred, ahead of schedule, is the result of local community and municipality support, combined with the efforts of Enbridge, EDF EN Canada and our partners over the past two years," added Don Thompson, Vice President, Green Power & Transmission for Enbridge. "With all 300 megawatts of Lac-Alfred now online, more than one-third of Enbridge's total wind power capacity is now in Quebec. This reflects our view of Quebec as an attractive place to do business and we continue to investigate opportunities to expand our investments in the province."
Lac-Alfred consists of 150 wind turbines supplied by REpower, with a portion of the equipment procured from the designated region of Gaspésie-Bas-Saint-Laurent.
"We are pleased to be part of the dedication of Lac-Alfred today, which is the biggest wind farm in Quebec to date. Together with EDF EN Canada, REpower has installed 530 MW in Quebec within a very short time frame. This was only possible due to the excellent and closely cooperating teams on both sides. I am glad that, once more, EDF EN Canada has put their trust in REpower - EDF EN and REpower have contracted more than 2 GW across the globe," says Helmut Herold, CEO, REpower Systems Inc."
Located in the municipalities of Saint-Cléophas, Sainte-Irène, Saint-Zénon-du-Lac-Humqui and the unorganized territory (UT) of Lac Alfred in the MRC de La Matapédia and in the municipality of La Rédemption and UT Lac-à-la-Croix in the MRC de La Mitis, the project further helps Enbridge meet its Neutral Footprint commitment to generate a kilowatt of renewable energy for every additional kilowatt of conventional power that the company's operations consume.
EDF EN Canada Inc.'s operation and maintenance affiliate, EDF Renewable Services Inc. provides long-term operations and maintenance (O&M) services.
About EDF EN Canada Inc.:
EDF EN Canada, an EDF Energies Nouvelles Company, is a market leader in renewable energy development, with an integrated approach that covers every aspect of project origination and implementation through to electricity generation, operations and maintenance. The company offers financial strength, technical innovation and an unmatched commitment to customer service. EDF EN Canada draws on the market leadership of EDF Renewable Energy, EDF EN's American affiliate. EDF Energies Nouvelles is a subsidiary of the EDF group. www.edf-energies-nouvelles.com www.edf-en.ca
About Enbridge Inc.:
Enbridge Inc. is a North American leader in delivering energy and has been included on the Global 100 Most Sustainable Corporations in the World ranking for the past five years. As a transporter of energy, Enbridge operates, in Canada and the U.S., the world's longest crude oil and liquids transportation system. The Company also has a significant and growing involvement in natural gas gathering, transmission and midstream businesses, and an increasing involvement in power transmission. As a distributor of energy, Enbridge owns and operates Canada's largest natural gas distribution company, and provides distribution services in Ontario, Quebec, New Brunswick and New York State. As a generator of energy, Enbridge has interests in close to 1,600 megawatts of renewable and alternative energy generating capacity and is expanding its interests in wind, solar and geothermal energy. Enbridge employs more than 10,000 people, primarily in Canada and the U.S. and is ranked as one of Canada's Greenest Employers and one of Canada's Top 100 Employers for 2013. Enbridge is included on the 2012/2013 Dow Jones Sustainability World Index and the Dow Jones Sustainability North America Index. Enbridge's common shares trade on the Toronto and New York stock exchanges under the symbol ENB. For more information, visit www.enbridge.com.
About EDF Renewable Services Inc:
EDF Renewable Services Inc. is the leading third-party provider of operations and maintenance services in North America. With 25 years of experience, EDF Renewable Services understands renewable energy facilities represent a substantial investment. The company takes an owner-operator approach to ensure maximum returns on the asset, full project value, and ongoing profitability for new and existing facilities. As part of a global organization with utility-scale wind and solar plants, the company brings depth of experience to every project. With more than 7 gigawatts of wind and solar under contract, EDF Renewable Services is the trusted leader in O&M. For more information visit: www.edf-renewable-services.com