The governments of Canada and Prince Edward Island are working together to reduce energy costs, create jobs and strengthen the local economy by helping Summerside generate more green energy. This is thanks in part to an announcement made today by the Honourable Gail Shea, Minister of Fisheries and Oceans, along with the Honourable Carolyn Bertram, PEI Minister of Communities, Cultural Affairs and Labour, and his Worship, Basil Stewart and City Council, that the governments of Canada and Prince Edward Island will invest up to $9 million in Phase Two of the Wind Turbines project.

“The Government of Canada, under the leadership of Prime Minister Stephen Harper, is creating jobs and stimulating our regional economy here in Prince Edward Island,” said Minister Shea. “The wind farm project is an example of what we are doing to keep Canadians working, our economy growing and our communities green.”

“As Minister responsible for Infrastructure and Municipal Affairs, I recognize that modern infrastructure plays a critical role in the development of healthy, sustainable and vibrant communities,” said Minister Bertram. “The Government of Prince Edward Island is proud to invest in the long term development and future sustainability of communities across the province.”

“I would like to thank the Government of Canada, the Province of Prince Edward Island and City Council of the City of Summerside for their contribution and commitment to our city and this project that will improve the environment while supplying green energy to our customers,” said Summerside Mayor Basil Stewart.

Phase Two of the wind energy project will see the purchase and installation of two wind turbines at the North St. Eleanor’s site. Combined with Phase One, the wind farm has the potential to meet more than 25 percent of the energy needs of the community of Summerside. The total estimated cost of Phase Two of the project is $13.5 million. The City of Summerside is contributing one-third of these costs. The total project cost of both Phase One and Phase Two is $30 million.

The Government of Canada’s Economic Action Plan is accelerating and expanding the existing federal investment of $33 billion in infrastructure with almost $12 billion in new infrastructure stimulus funding over two years. The Province of Prince Edward Island is working closely with the federal government to ensure that these infrastructure funds are being spent on priority projects across the province.

To learn more about Canada’s Economic Action Plan, visit www.actionplan.gc.ca For more information on federal infrastructure investments, visit www.buildingcanada.gc.ca. For more information on infrastructure program in Prince Edward Island, visit www.gov.pe.ca/go/infrastructure.

BACKGROUNDER

PHASE TWO OF SUMMERSIDE WIND FARM PROJECT

The governments of Canada and Prince Edward Island have signed an agreement to support Phase Two of the Summerside wind farm project.

The wind farm development has two phases. Phase One will see the development of a 6MW generation facility, and the second phase would see an additional 6MW. Once both phases of the project are completed, this wind farm will have the potential to meet more than 25 percent of the energy needs of the community when the winds are favourable.

Phase One of this project began in 2006 with the purchase of two wind turbines. Delivery of these turbines, along with the additional two being announced today, is scheduled for August of this year. Project completion is estimated for November 2009.

The total project cost of Phase Two is estimated at $13.5 million and will see the purchase and installation of two wind turbines at the North St. Eleanor’s site, a former landfill in the region. The governments of Canada and Prince Edward Island have each set aside $4.5 million, or one-third of funding each for the project.

The Old St. Eleanor’s landfill site and adjacent land areas are being utilized for this wind farm because of their high wind speeds and very low density of residents.

The scope of the project is to displace fossil fuel generated energy with renewable resource energy; it is expected to displace, annually, 30.6GWH’s of electricity when the wind farm is fully developed. Presently the City of Summerside consumes 121 GWH per year, the 12MW wind farm will supply the City with 25.6 percent of its energy needs.

The project will benefit the Province on many fronts, such as:

• Reduced greenhouse gas emissions;

• Lower dependence on imports of electricity to the Province;

• Help stabilize electricity costs within the Province; and

• Provide economic development benefits to the local areas.

The completion of this wind farm project will consist of the erection of two wind turbines, electrical grid interconnection and distribution lines to the City of Summerside’s substation.

The wind farm project will help the city provide green power to all its customers, businesses within its boundaries. The savings in electrical costs electricity will help benefit the city in applying those funds in the community for improvements to the community as a whole. These funds will be re-invested in other improvements to benefit the City and the local communities that use the City of Summerside as its service center. The wind farm is also seen as a tourist draw which will provide economic spinoff from visitors that come to see the wind farm.

Currently, the City of Summerside owns and operates its own electric utility and services approximately 6600 residences and businesses. The City’s electricity capacity consists of 10.48 MW’s of diesel fired generation and operates on a cold standby, operating reserve mode. The City purchases 77 percent of its electricity requirements from out of Province, from fossil fuel electricity generators. This amount will be decreased significantly once turbines are operational. The electrical service boundaries of the City of Summerside encompass part of the Communities of Sherbrooke, Linkletter and Traveller’s Rest.

The governments of Canada and Prince Edward Island are investing in other infrastructure projects across the province under various funding programs, including upgrades to the wastewater treatment plants in Tyne Valley and Crapaud; water infrastructure improvements in Kensington, Montague, Charlottetown and Tignish; a new pedway in downtown Charlottetown; major upgrades to our roads and bridges, including the new Montague Bridge; and over twenty Gas Tax projects focused on Building Municipal Capacity.

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