Dec 19 2009
GDF SUEZ has completed the construction of the largest wind operation, Caribou Wind Park, in the province of New Brunswick. Commercial operation at Caribou Wind Park has also started in this facility, which is located 70 kilometers northwest of Bathurst, New Brunswick. In order to fulfill a 20-year power purchase agreement with New Brunswick Power, this 99-megawatt facility will supply its entire power to the utility. The electricity produced in Caribou Wind Park is sufficient to power 30,000 homes and meets about 2% of the power requirements in the province.
David Hay, CEO and President of NB Power, remarked that the partnership the company has developed with GDF SUEZ will enable New Brunswickers to effectively make use of the benefits from this new facility that has started its commercial operations. Hay stated that NB Power focuses in developing initiatives that will help the company to reduce its environmental footprint. Expansion of the company’s portfolio is one such initiative developed by NB Power.
GDF SUEZ’s North American renewable energy portfolio has been increased to 509 MW with the starting of commercial operations at Caribou Wind Park. Two wind farms near the west and north capes of Prince Edward Island are owned and operated by GDF SUEZ. These two wind farms include the Norway Wind Farm that generates 9 MW and the West Cape Wind Farm that generates 99 MW. More than one-third GDF SUEZ’s North American power operations are either carbon-neutral or carbon-free facilities.
Zin Smati, CEO and President of GDF SUEZ, remarked that the company has been successful in carrying out its commercial operations in New Burnswick because of its partnership with NB Power along with the professionalism and expertise from a huge number of regional and local contractors and the leadership within the federal and provincial governments. Smati stated that the company completed its construction within the specified time period in order to fulfill its power purchase agreement with NB Power.