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Lakeshore Advance, 2013-08-21, Page 14Wednesday, August 21, 2013 • Lakeshore Advance 13 Gord Potts Director Business Development and Project Manager Grand Bend Wind Farm for Northland Power Inc. Wind energy is growing in more than 90 countries around the world at an average annual rate of more than 25%ayear • ADVKRTISE HI NT Bend Wind r • unity News Wind Power - A Global Growth Story Wind power is one of the fastest growing sources of energy in the world. As people move away from traditional, carbon -based fuels, wind power is increasingly recognized as a safe, efficient part of a clean, renewable energy grid. Across the globe, wind energy is being implemented in an effort to phase out reliance on coal, and to promote a healthier environment. According to Chris Forrest of the Canadian Wind Energy Association, "Wind energy is growing in more than 90 countries around the world at an average annual rate of more than 25% a year because governments, citizens and electricity system operators alike have found a reliable, clean, and safe form of energy at a good price."' Across Canada wind projects have been undertaken in British Columbia, Alberta, Manitoba, Quebec, Northwest Territories, Nova Scotia and Ontario, which has more than z,000MW of installed wind energy capacity now in place.' Record Growth in the US South of the border, the United States Energy Department recently released two reports that showed the record growth of their wind market. According to these reports, "the United States continues to be one of the world's largest and fastest growing wind markets. In 2012, wind energy became the num- ber one source of new U.S. electricity generation capacity for the first time representing 43% of all new electric additions and accounting for $25 billion in U.S. investment."' Ernest Moniz, the Energy Secretary, went on to explain that "The tremendous growth in the U.S. wind industry over the past few years under- scores the importance of consistent policy that ensures America remains a leader in clean energy innovation... wind is paving the way to a cleaner, more sustainable future that protects our air and water and provides affordable, clean renewable energy to more and more Americans:4 According to industry esti- mates, the wind sector employs over 8o,000 American workers, including workers at manufacturing facilities up and down the supply chain, as well as engineers and construction workers who build wind installations.."` Intelligent energy for II finer planet http://grandbend.northlandpower,ca by Gord Potts Europe Leads in Wind Power Europe is the global leader in wind power, with more than 90% of the world's installed capacity (as of 2011). Europe is also the leader in offshore wind energy (the construction of wind farms in bodiet of water), with the European Wind Energy Associa- tion Around (EWEA) estimating that a quarter of Europe's wind energy could be produced offshore in 2020. By 2030, offshore wind in Europe could be providing 145 million households with renewable electricity and employing 318,000 people.' To date, the United Kingdom is leading the world in offshore wind power generation, with more capacity than the rest of the world combined; other countries such as Germany, Belgium, France and the Netherlands currently have offshore wind farms in development or construction. Northland goes offshore Recognizing the potential of offshore wind, Northland Power announced on August 1st, 2013 that we have entered into agree- ments for the rights to acquire a majority equity stake in Gemini, a 600MW offshore wind project currently in advanced development in the Netherlands. Gemini is located 85 kilometers off the coast of the Netherlands in the North Sea, which combines one of the strongest and most reliable wind resources in the world with favourable sea bed conditions. According to EWEA, there is enough wind energy in North Sea deep waters alone to power Europe four times over. We are very excited about this project, and look forward to working with our partners to encourage this thriving industry. t http://Www.thespec.com/opinion-story/»)6895-wind-energy-isa-better-dealdor- on tario-than-new .nuckjr/ Ibid. 3 http://www. onlinetes.com/wind-energy-manufacturingproduction-united- states-87a3.aspx 4 Ibid. 5 Ibid. 6 http://Wwwewea.org/publications/reporti/lno_cachealtrtx_ea. piz% 8showRepo rt1450.46frcHJsh=Pot b8oI78967dco7ad7796kR'8f66eb 7 http://Www.commodities-now.com/news/power-and-energy/iso8rworld-s-second- -larges t -offshore -wind -farm -opens. h tml Northland Power is an Ontario -based company with over 25 years experience developing, NOA D owning and operating facilities that produce and sell clean and green energy POWER