GE to manufacture 288 wind turbines for Ontario wind farms

MISSISSAUGA: General Electric (GE) is building almost 300 wind turbines for NextEra Energy Canada, a generator of wind and solar power, for six new wind farms in Ontario.

The new wind farms will produce more than 460 megawatts of clean power, enough to power nearly 120,000 homes in Ontario. GE will supply 288 of its 1.6-100 wind turbines for the projects, marking one of the first installations of this technology in Canada.

GE has secured more than 1,200 megawatts of global commitments for this technology since it was launched in May.

The wind farms are part of a $1 billion investment by NextEra and meet the requirements of Ontario’s Green Energy Act.

Under the provisions of the Green Energy Act, 50% of all project goods and labor must come from Ontario at the time they reach commercial operation. This agreement will help NextEra Energy Canada meet its commitment to creating jobs and economic opportunities in Ontario. GE manufacturing facilities in Port Colborne, Ottawa, Windsor and Stony Creek will contribute to fulfill domestic content requirements.

Subsidiaries of NextEra Energy Canada were awarded 20-year power purchase agreements by the Ontario Power Authority to develop the projects, which will be located at six sites across Ontario and are expected to enter commercial operation in 2013 and 2014. Together, these six projects are expected to create more than 4,000 direct and indirect jobs.

GE’s wind turbine technology is qualified under ecomagination, the company’s commitment to address challenges such as the need for cleaner, more efficient sources of energy, reduced emissions and abundant sources of clean water.