Ontario Welcomes the World's Largest Solar PV Farm

 
 

October 4, 2010 11:00 AM

McGuinty Government's Clean Economy Creates 1400 Construction Jobs

Ontario welcomes the official opening of the world's largest solar photovoltaic (PV) farm and milestones for two new wind projects in South-West Ontario.

The province has attracted over $1 billion in private sector investment and created more than 1,400 construction jobs through three renewable energy projects that will produce enough electricity to power about 83,000 homes each year, replacing dirty, smog-producing coal with clean, renewable energy.

These projects will add almost 300 megawatts (MW) of renewable energy capacity to the more than 8,000 MW of new cleaner power that has been created since 2003. Ontario is building more clean energy to phase out dirty, smog-producing coal-fired generation and to keep the lights on for Ontario families' homes, businesses, hospitals and schools.

The three renewable energy projects celebrated today include:

  • The Sarnia Solar Project - 80 MW now online, represents approximately $400 million of investment and enough electricity each year to power more than 12,000 homes - or about 40 per cent of homes in the City of Sarnia. Construction of the project created about 800 jobs.
  • The Gosfield Wind Farm - 50 MW now online in Kingsville, represents enough electricity each year to power about 16,000 homes. Construction of the project created about 300 jobs.
  • The Comber Wind Project - 166 MW to come online next fall, in Lakeshore. Comber is expected to produce enough electricity each year to power 55,000 homes. Construction of the project is expected to create 300 or more jobs at peak.
  • The Gosfield and Comber Wind projects represent about $650 million of private sector investment and enough electricity each year to meet the needs of over 40 per cent of Essex County homes.

Renewable projects that generate negligible emissions support the McGuinty government's Open Ontario Plan to attract investment, build a clean energy economy and create jobs for Ontario families and helps provide clean air to breathe for our children and grandchildren

QUICK FACTS

 
  • Each of these projects has a 20-year Power Purchase Agreement with the Ontario Power Authority.
  • Ontario permanently closed four units of dirty coal-fired generation on October 1, 2010, four years ahead of schedule.
  • Ontario is Canada's leader in wind and solar capacity, home to the largest wind farms in Canada and now home of the largest solar PV farm in the entire world.
  • In 2009, more than 80 per cent of our generation came from emissions-free sources.

CONTACTS

  • Andrew Block
    Minister's Office
    416-327-6747
  • Anne Smith
    Communications Branch
    416-327-7226



Ministry of Energy
ontario.ca/energy


 

"This is a landmark day for Ontario and demonstrates that our clean energy economy is creating jobs and attracting investment into our communities. These new renewable projects will harness the wind and the sun to generate the clean energy we need to power our homes and businesses today and for our children's and grandchildren's futures."

 – Brad Duguid
Minister of Energy

"The vision and commitment that the Government of Ontario has shown toward renewable energy has been outstanding. Through the Green Energy Act, and its associated programs, Premier McGuinty and his government have created the economic environment and operating climate that has enabled projects like the Sarnia Solar Project to thrive."

 – Al Monaco
Executive Vice President, Major Projects and Green Energy. Enbridge Inc.

"Brookfield has operated in Ontario's power industry for almost 100 years, and today marks a major milestone for us and the province with the successful commissioning of the Gosfield Wind Farm, and the start of construction for the Comber Wind Farm. These projects combined will deliver enough electricity to power over seventy thousand homes with new, clean renewable energy. We are grateful to the people of Essex County for welcoming Brookfield and these projects to their communities, and to the many workers who are helping us grow our power business in Ontario."

 – Harry Goldgut
Chairman of Brookfield Renewable Power

 
 
 
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