TORONTO (Aug 19, 2019) Potentia Renewables Inc. (Potentia) today celebrated the groundbreaking of its first Saskatchewan wind energy project near Assiniboia, the Golden South Wind Energy Facility (the Project).
The Project is a $325 million investment that consists of 50 permanent magnet direct drive wind turbines with a net capacity of 200 Megawatts (MW) and is located approximately 140 km southwest of Regina and 150 km southeast of Swift Current. The Project was the successful proponent of the recent SaskPower request for proposals and has executed a 200 MW, 25-year power purchase agreement with SaskPower to supply both energy and environmental credits. The Project generates approximately 900,000 MWh and eliminates over 500,000 tonnes of carbon from the electricity grid. The carbon reduction is the equivalent of over 100,000 cars from the road or half the vehicles in Regina or Saskatoon.
Potentia’s CEO, Jeff Jenner, announced plans for the 200-megawatt Golden South Wind Project located in Assiniboia, Saskatchewan. At the event, attended by land owners, provincial and local officials, utility executives, suppliers and other stakeholders, Potentia Renewables shared their vision for providing clean, renewable energy, while creating jobs, and stimulating local economic growth in the region. More than 220 people will be employed to construct the Project and up to 10 permanent full-time staff will operate it.
“We are pleased to start the construction of this exciting Project”, said Jeff Jenner, Chief Executive Officer of Potentia Renewables Inc. “The cooperation that we received from local and provincial organizations along with SaskPower, the utility and off-taker of the energy, has enabled us to accelerate our plans and target commercial operation at the end of 2020. This project provides SaskPower with the lowest cost renewable energy in Canada for 25 years.”
“Increasing renewable capacity is a major component of our provincial climate change strategy, Prairie Resilience, and this project will bolster SaskPower’s efforts toward meeting our goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions 40 per cent by 2030”, said the Honourable Dustin Duncan, Minister Responsible for SaskPower. “Through investments such as this, we can rise to meet the challenges of climate change while also creating good jobs and growing the local economy”.
“Golden South will dramatically increase available wind capacity in Saskatchewan”, said Mike Marsh, SaskPower President & CEO. “Clean, renewable wind energy will continue to be an important and growing part of our energy mix in the years to come as we strive to meet growing customer demand while lowering carbon emissions.”
Potentia has now commenced on its $1 billion build out program for wind energy in Western Canada over the next 24 months. Potentia was also the tender winner for 3 projects in Alberta for more than 300 MW. These projects will also commence construction late this year.,
