A subsidiary of EDF Energies Nouvelles and Enbridge have announced that the 300-megawatt (MW) Blackspring Ridge Project located in Vulcan County, Alberta is now fully operational.
The project began in May 2013 and comprises of 166 Vestas V100-1.8 MW wind turbines. It is the largest wind energy investment in Western Canada, which cost approximately CAD $0.6 billion. The Alberta-based Climate Change and Emissions Management Corporation (CCEMC) committed CAD $10 million in funding for the project. The CCEMC monetarily supports projects that aim to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and help Alberta better adapt to climate change. This particular project has helped to provide substantial economic benefits to rural Alberta like jobs and increased tax revenues. It will also supply enough clean energy to power 140,000 homes.
“As Enbridge’s third Alberta-based wind facility to come online, Blackspring Ridge is a welcome addition to our growing portfolio of renewable energy assets,” said Don Thompson, Vice President, Green Power and Transmission, Enbridge Inc. “Completing a project of this magnitude requires a great deal of coordination and teamwork. Not only is this the largest wind farm in western Canada, it is one of the largest in Canada. Blackspring Ridge was built ahead of schedule thanks to the outstanding efforts of the entire team. I would also like to express our appreciation to our community partners and landowners for their continued support during the construction phase. We look forward to our future together in Vulcan County.”