The provincial government of Ontario has unveiled plans for a series of significant wind farms with a total capacity of 955 MW by 2010.

The eight proposed projects are expected to require investment of some C$2 billion ($1.72 billion). All the developers have 20-year power purchase agreements with the Ontario Power Authority at a take off price of C¢8.64/kWh (¢7.44/kWh).

Most of the projects are expected to be up and running by the end of 2007.

Among the projects underway Epcor Utilities is to build the 160 MW Kingsbridge II wind project at a cost of C$300 million ($258 million) near Goderich, north of Sarnia; Kruger Energy is to develop the 101 MW Port Alma project, south of Chatham; Calgary-based Enbridge is behind the Leader Wind Projects A and B at Kincardine, on the shores of Lake Huron north of London two of the Ontario projects generating some 200 MW and requiring an investment of C$400 million ($344 million); a further 132 MW project is underway by Canadian Hydro Developers. The Melancthon II Wind Project will be located at Shelburne, northwest of Mississauga while Brascan’s 90 MW Prince II Wind Power Project at Sault St. Marie will be joined by the 76 MW Ripley Wind Power Project at Ripley, south of Kincardine. SkyPower Corp is also working on Canadian Hydro Developers’ 198 MW Wolfe Island Wind Project at Kingston.

The move from Ontario follows the late October announcement that the Quebec government will authorise Hydro-Québec to acquire a further 2,000 MW of new wind power projects in the province. The expansion is expected to require more than C$3 billion ($2.58 billion) in investments. Installations under the latest programme will bring the province’s total installed capacity to almost 3,500 MW by 2013, approximately 7% of the total energy generation.

Manitoba’s government has also called for expressions of interests to develop 1,000 MW of wind over the next decade.