Vermont Business Magazine Boralex Inc, Gaz Métro Limited Partnership, and Valener Inc have announced the commercial commissioning of an additional 68MW at the Seigneuriede Beaupré Wind Farms, completing PhaseII of the wind farm which now totals340MW in operation. The wind farm is located just northeast of Quebec City. Gaz Metro is the owner of Green Mountain Power and Vermont Gas Systems.
"The success of this second phase of the Seigneurie de Beaupré Wind Farms is one more example of the outstanding work of our teams, who completed the project on budget and on schedule," noted Gaz Métro President and CEOSophie Brochuand Boralex President and CEOPatrick Lemaire.
Contributorsto completing the 68MW PhaseII on schedule to the commissioning date include:Séminaire de Québec, the owner of the land;Borea, the contractor responsible for construction of the roads and collector systems;Enercon, the maker of the 28wind turbines; the elected officials of the region; and a large number of local businesses.
Highlights of the 68MW PhaseII of the Seigneuriede Beaupré Wind Farms:
- 210,000 hours of work were needed to erect the 28 turbines
- $190 millionin investments, including$55 millionin Québec and$43 millionin the Capitale-Nationale region
- More than 30 local businesses in the Côte-de-Beaupré region took part in the construction
Combined with the 272MW (126turbines) commissioned in late 2013, these 68MW (28turbines) position the Québec-based consortium to supply green energy to Québec's power grid for the next 20years. Following addition of the 25MW Côte-de-Beaupré community project (La Côte-de-Beaupré RCM and Boralex project), in 2015, the Seigneurie de Beaupré Wind Farms will rank amongCanada'slargest wind power sites with 365MW of installed capacity.
About the Seigneurie de Beaupré Wind Farms
The Seigneurie de Beaupré Wind Farms, with a total contracted capacity of 365MW, currently constitute one of Canada'slargest wind power projects.The first phase of 272MW (Farms 2 & 3), commissioned in late 2013, and the second phase of 68 MW (Farm 4), commissioned in late 2014, are projects of the Boralex and GazMétro|Valener consortium. Furthermore, the 25MW Côte-de-Beaupré wind farm built in partnership by Boralex and the Côte-de-Beaupré RCM is expected to start operating in 2015.
About Boralex
Boralex is a power producer whose core business is dedicated to the development and the operation of renewable energy power stations.Currently, the Corporation operates an asset base with an installed capacity of more than 750 MW inCanada,Franceand theNortheastern United States. Boralex is also committed under power development projects, both independently and with Canadian and European partners, to add more than 100 MW of power that will be put in service by the end of 2015.With more than 200 employees, Boralex is known for its diversified expertise and in-depth experience in four power generation types — wind, hydroelectric, thermal and solar. Boralex's shares and convertible debentures are listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange under the ticker symbols BLX and BLX.DB, respectively. More information is available atwww.boralex.comorwww.sedar.com.
About Gaz Métro and Valener
With more than$6 billionin assets, Gaz Métro is a leading energy provider.It is the largest natural gas distribution company inQuebec, where its network of over 10,000 km of underground pipelines serves 300 municipalities and more than 195,000 customers. Gaz Métro is also present inVermont, producing electricity and distributing electricity and natural gas to meet the needs of more than 305,000 customers. Gaz Métro is actively involved in the development and operation of innovative, promising energy projects such as the production of wind power, the use of natural gas as a transportation fuel and the development of biomethane. Gaz Métro is a major energy sector player who takes the lead in responding to the needs of its customers, regions and municipalities, local organizations, and communities while also satisfying the expectations of its Partners (GMi and Valener) and employees.www.gazmetro.com
Valener Inc. is a public company that is 100% owned by the public investor and serves as the investment vehicle in Gaz Métro. Through its investment in Gaz Métro, Valener offers its shareholders an investment in a diversified and largely regulated energy portfolio inQuebecandVermont. As a strategic partner, Valener, on one hand, contributes to Gaz Métro's growth, and on the other hand invests in wind power production in Quebectogether with Gaz Métro. Valener favours energy sources and uses that are innovative, clean, competitive and profitable. Valener's common shares and preferred shares are listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange under the "VNR" symbol for common shares and under the "VNR.PR.A" symbol for Series A preferred shares.www.valener.com
SOURCE CÔTE-DE-BEAUPRÉ, QC, Dec.3, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -Boralex Inc. VERY TOP PHOTO: Courtesy of Seigneurie de Beaupré Wind Farms