New Premier supports expansion to Alberta's energy portfolio
Published on October 24, 2011
October 26, 2011, Medicine Hat Alberta...Intending to make Alberta a global leader in alternative energy production, Premier Alison Redford has proven supportive of expanding the province's energy portfolio; while also helping to position it as an integral player in design, development and implementation of next-generation energy technologies. For renewable companies in southeast Alberta, this announcement raises optimism.
“We are excited,” said Tracy Heebner associate director for the Economic Development Alliance (EDA) of Southeast Alberta, “for industry and in terms of investment attraction. The provincial support will help to increase momentum with wind farm development, support our solar initiatives and aid in positioning southeast Alberta as a leader in renewable energy.”
The EDA has been actively supporting alternative energy since 2005 when they started to work on attracting wind farms; they plan on continuing these efforts through their next funding cycle. In 2011, the business team had 13 strong leads from seven countries, mostly in the clean-tech sector: renewable energy and efficient building technologies.
Heebner explains that the organization is currently working on a Solar Investment Attraction Report; has administrated many other wind and solar opportunity reports; as well as created and continues to update a clean-tech directory.”The economic impact of these clean sources is substantial,” said Heebner. “The rewards, in concerns to the local wind farm projects alone, are a regional Gross Domestic Products (GDP) of $402.5 million during construction and $53.4 million for operations and maintenance-huge stimulants.”
As identified in the Wind Energy Opportunity Identification Report, development of the farms will also impact the economy by approximately 5,125 construction jobs and 497 annual operating jobs. Solar, geo-thermal, and green buildings are also areas that will both create jobs and investment opportunities as well aid in reducing our carbon footprint.
The EDA will continue to work closely with industry to address their needs and ensure that they are well represented on a global scale. They are animate on building relations with the new Premier as well as providing her, and other key officials with up-to-date facts on the region and its energy capacity.
The business team at the EDA encourages anyone who has inquiries or wants to learn more about the alternative energy sector in the region to visit www.edalliance.ca.