Quebec announces $1.9 billion wind energy program

The Quebec government on Monday announced a $1.9-billion, eight-year investment in eight private wind farms in the eastern part of the province.

Premier Jean Charest said the new windmill farms will produce about 1,000 megawatts of power.

The province's investment in wind power will more than double Canada's output of wind-generated electricity, the Canadian Wind Energy Association said.

The wind farms will be completed between 2006 and 2012. Six of the farms will be owned by Cartier Wind Energy; the other two will be owned by Northland Power.

Cartier Wind Energy is half-owned by TransCanada Corp., with 30 per cent held by Innergex II Inc, and the remaining 20 per cent owned by RES Canada.

Quebec deal is largest wind generating contract ever

GE Energy has been tapped to supply a total of 660 wind turbines for the project.

GE Energy says Quebec's investment is the largest single award for new wind generation capacity in the history of the wind energy industry.

Hydro-Quebec said the wind farms and two wind turbine plants will be built in the regional county municipality of Matane and in Gaspesie-Iles-de-la-Madelaine. The project is expected to create 360 jobs, the provincial government said.