The project will also receive a portion of the federal EcoEnergy incentive for wind power for 10 years.
“We are very proud of the whole team that brought in this project 11 days ahead of schedule and well within its $268 million total budget,” said John Brace, president and chief executive officer of Northland Power Fund. “The effort involved tremendous cooperation with Hydro-Quebec and support from all levels of government in Quebec, especially the RCM of Matane and the municipalities of Saint-Ulric, Saint-Leandre and the City of Matane, who did so much to make this project happen. Our EPC contractor, Borea Construction, did a great job in delivering the project ahead of schedule. And, with over 60 landowners providing land for the turbines and infrastructure, we look forward to a long and close relationship with our community partners in the St Ulric and St Leandre area”.
The wind farm was built by Borea Construction ULC. The wind turbine towers and nacelles were supplied to GE from the Marmen facility in Matane, the nacelle shells were also fabricated in Matane at VCI Composites, and the blades were manufactured for GE by LM Glasfibre in their factory in Gaspe. In total, the project represents an investment of over $100 million in the Gaspesie economy and an additional $20 million in the Quebec economy outside the Gaspesie, and will provide ongoing employment to 10 local service and operations staff.
The Jardin d’Eole project was developed by Northland Power. Northland Power Fund acquired all the rights to the project following the July 2009 merger with Northland Power. This is the Fund’s second wind farm in Quebec, joining the 54 MW Mont Miller project that began operation in 2005 in Murdochville. It continues the Fund’s strategy of investing in sustainable clean and green power generating assets with long-term power purchase agreements.