“The answer is blowin’ in the wind”

Could the final words of Bob Dylan’s 1963 classic Blowin’ in the Wind, become a mantra for Natural Resources Minister Lisa Raitt? It certainly came across that way in her opening remarks to the 25th annual Canadian Wind Energy Association conference and trade show in September. By year’s end, wind generation capacity in Canada will top 3,000 megawatts and Raitt evidently sees this burgeoning industry as a key to enhanced energy security as it boosts the economy and creates jobs. It’s the output of nearly 100 commercial wind farms already in place. Contrast that with the mid-1980s ago when there were none.

“I can’t think of very many industries that can show that kind of growth,” Raitt said. “Wind will be . . . lighting up hundreds-of-thousands of Canadian homes and doing it without generating a single kilogram of greenhouse gas emissions. . . . It’s good to be able to look back on how far the wind industry has come in this country — and it’s also a good time to look at where it’s going.”

This year will see British Columbia and Newfoundland & Labrador commemorating the opening of their first commercial wind farms and the minister said Canada’s fundamental vastness presents tremendous opportunities, not only for wind power but also other forms of energy.

“We have the opportunity to become a living laboratory for the rest of the world,” she said. “Every province has access to wind power and this is integral for us moving forward. . . . Wind energy continues to be a priority for the Government of Canada. It has to be; we’ve made a commitment to having 90 per cent of Canada’s electricity come from clean and renewable sources by 2020.”

Out of its $1.5-billion ecoENERGY for Renewable Power program, Ottawa has invested in 75 “and counting” projects. Two-thirds are for wind power. Raitt said this is being complemented by research and development at the Wind Energy Institute of Canada and other initiatives, including accelerated capital cost allowances for machinery and equipment, elimination of tariffs on imports of machinery and equipment, improved credit facilities, and the Green Infrastructure and Clean Energy funds.

The application deadline for another federal initiative, the $200 million Fund for Renewable & Clean Energy System Demonstrations, closed in mid-September and the government now is assessing 175 proposals for projects with a total installed value of some $3.5 billion. Eighteen are for both wind and electrical storage projects and Raitt said the government hopes to begin financing discussions with a short list of project backers shortly.

“The sooner we can get these projects running, putting shovels in the grounds and using this new technology, the closer we are to reducing our emissions and achieving our 2020 targets.”