wind farm

More of the power we use in our province will be coming from a "green" source as a new wind power facility will be built near Chaplin.

It was just annonunced that SaskPower has signed a power purchase agreement with Ontario-based Algonquin Power: "Algonquin would be the private enterprise that would build and run the facility, and SaskPower has signed a long-term power purchase agreement to buy power from them," said SaskPower President and CEO Robert Watson.

The 77-turbine 177-megawatt facility, along with an additional 55 megawatts of windpower Saskpower is opting to add under its Green Options Partners program, will eventually mean that wind power will make up 8.5% of the crown utility's generating capacity.

"That's an optimal number for us," Watson said. "Although we are going to add more 'wind-in' in the future, you don't want to go much above 8.5% with your blend, because the wind doesn't blow all the time, or sometimes blows too hard."

Construction of the project is expected to begin in 2016 and is expected to be operational later that year.

Todd Vallee talked with SaskPower President and CEO Robert Watson: