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Natural Resources
Labrador and Aboriginal Affairs
June 15, 2011

Wind Monitoring Project Gets Underway in Labrador

To support efforts to identify alternative sources of energy for Labrador’s coastal communities, the Provincial Government today announced the start of the Coastal Labrador Wind Monitoring Program under Phase Two of the Coastal Labrador Alternative Energy study.

“Phase One of the study identified alternative energy sources that have the potential to provide clean renewable power to residents on Labrador’s coast who are currently serviced by diesel generation,” said the Honourable Shawn Skinner, Minister of Natural Resources. “The results of this initial phase provided valuable information on the region’s resource potential and areas for further examination, such as wind and small-scale hydroelectricity. Phase Two will allow for further analysis of potential wind generation and hydroelectric sites in four identified coastal Labrador communities - Nain, Hopedale, Makkovik, and Cartwright.”

The Coastal Labrador Wind Monitoring Program will be conduced over a three-year period and the scope of work will include site visits for wind prospecting, the evaluation of transmission requirements, constructability, and other desirable qualities of a wind energy development site, and the collection and validation of the wind data from each site. An overall ranking of potential sites based on total per-unit energy costs and environmental risk will also be completed. The Provincial Government has provided Newfoundland and Labrador Hydro $877,000 to complete this study.

The Wind Monitoring Program is the second program to come out of the Coastal Labrador Alternative Energy study. In November 2010, the Provincial Government announced $2.5 million for further analysis at the hydroelectric sites identified in Phase One. Currently ongoing, the analysis includes preliminary investigations at the sites shown to be competitive against the cost of diesel fuel, and/or capable of displacing one or more diesel plants. Sites that warranted further investigation were near the communities of Mary’s Harbour, Port Hope Simpson, Charlottetown, Makkovik, and Hopedale. Also being undertaken by Newfoundland and Labrador Hydro, this study includes more detailed engineering and environmental assessments, cost estimates, and detailed survey and mapping and is expected to take up to 24 months to complete.

“Through the Northern Strategic Plan for Labrador, the Rate Deferral Subsidy for Diesel Service Areas, the Enhanced Home Heating Rebate, the Rural Deficit Subsidy, and the PST Home Heating Rebate, the province is striving to keep energy rates on the coast as low as possible,” said the Honourable John Hickey, Minister of Labrador Affairs. “This government remains committed to the people of Labrador. We will continue to examine potential sources of alternative energy, and identify the best cost-effective solutions for residents in diesel communities.”

A copy of the Phase One report can be found at www.gov.nl.ca/nr/publications/energy/index.html

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Media contacts:

Heather Maclean
Director of Communications
Department of Natural Resources
709-729-5282, 697-4137
heathermaclean@gov.nl.ca
John Tompkins
Director of Communications
Department of Labrador and Aboriginal Affairs
709-729-1674
jtompkins@gov.nl.ca

2011 06 15                                                                          9:50 a.m.

 
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