International Power Canada Nears Construction of Vancouver Island Wind Farm

VANCOUVER ISLAND, British Columbia, Aug. 8, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Following its commitment to wind power generation in Canada, International Power Canada, Inc. is preparing for construction on Cape Scott Wind Farm, a 99 MW wind facility 40 km (25 miles) west of Port Hardy on the northeast coast of Vancouver Island, British Columbia.

Site assessment at Cape Scott—formerly named Knob Hill Wind Farm prior to International Power's purchase of the project from Sea Breeze Power Corp. in June—is under way and civil construction work, such as road ways and infrastructure, is projected to begin in October upon final environmental permitting.

Cape Scott Wind Farm will provide all of its power to BC Hydro under a 20-year power purchase agreement.

"With nearly 90 percent of British Columbia's power production fueled by hydro generation, we are proud to be able to contribute to the diversification of the province's electricity resources with yet another form of renewable energy," said Mike Crawley, president, International Power Canada.  "The facility will be located on the traditional territories of First Nations, and we've worked closely with the Quatsino, Tlatlasikwala and Kwakiutl communities during the project.  We are pleased that Cape Scott enjoys their support as well as that of other residents in the region."

With a total investment cost of more than $300 million, the project will be powered by 55 Vestas V100 1.8 MW turbines and occupy a total footprint of 350 hectares (864 acres) of island bog landscape outside of Cape Scott National Park.  The company's first initiative in the province, Cape Scott is projected to achieve commercial operation in spring 2013.

Cape Scott construction is estimated to create 150 construction jobs during the peak period of construction and 12 permanent operations and maintenance positions at the facility.  During the construction period, the project is expected to have an estimated $25 million economic impact on the area.

Today within North America, International Power operates 25 renewable facilities powered by wind, biomass, and conventional hydro energy, totaling a capacity of 589 MW.  Additionally, two pumped storage hydro plants add another 1,109 MW to the clean energy mix.  In Canada specifically, the company currently operates five wind farms totaling 287 MW in the Canadian Maritimes and Ontario, and has another 600 MW of wind generation projects, including Cape Scott Wind Farm, under construction or development in Ontario and British Columbia.

About International Power in North America

International Power manages a range of energy businesses in the United States, Mexico, and Canada, including electricity generation and cogeneration, natural gas and liquefied natural gas (LNG) distribution and sales, asset-based trading and origination, and retail energy sales and related services to commercial and industrial customers.

The company owns and/or operates cogeneration, steam, and chilled water facilities, representing a capacity of more than 14,000 MW of electricity generation, 6.0 million pounds per hour of steam, and 42,000 tons per hour of chilled water.  Renewable fuels—wind, hydro, and biomass—power 25 of the facilities in the portfolio.  The company's natural gas assets include an LNG receiving terminal in Everett, Mass., which currently meets approximately 20 percent of New England's annual gas demand; an offshore LNG import facility off the coast of Massachusetts; and natural gas distribution networks and pipelines in Mexico that serve nearly 400,000 customers.

International Power is listed on the London Stock Exchange with ticker symbol IPR.  GDF SUEZ holds a 70% stake in International Power plc.  For more information, please visit www.iprplc-gdfsuez.com and www.gdfsuez.com.

SOURCE International Power Canada, Inc.