Eric Schneider, a spokesman for the company said these projects are unfortunately suffering from this economic downturn that we’re experiencing.
Schneider said that he does not know how long the delays will be, considering the company needs to find financing in an uncertain economy.
I think everybody’s anxious to get construction started. And the fact that they’re delayed is obviously disappointing, but the main message that we’re trying to convey is that it’s disappointing to us as well and we’re working to find a solution as quickly as we can, Schneider said.
Leonard Laroque, a spokesman for the Renewable Energy Co-operative in Lameque, said that there was still optimism in the northeastern community that the project and its promised jobs will materialize.
We are confident that the project will be built in the near future, Laroque said.
So we are not preoccupied with that right now. I think we are confident that we will have the project in the near future.
The New Brunswick government’s renewable energy strategy targets 400 MW of wind power by 2010. The plan is to use renewable energy, such as wind, solar, tidal, small hydro or biomass, to meet at least 10% of the province’s electricity needs by 2010.
That plan relies on energy from the two wind farms that the company was supposed to make operational by November 2010. The two delayed projects represent about one quarter of the 2010 goal.
Energy Minister Jack Keir said that it was too early to know if the delays will put a dent in the province’s plan.
