NaiKun Wind Energy Group Inc. announced December 10 that it had been granted a provincial Environmental Assessment Certificate from the British Columbia Environmental Assessment Office for its 396MW offshore wind energy project in northwest British Columbia, paving the way for the construction of Canada’s first offshore wind energy project.
“This is an important day for NaiKun Wind and for British Columbia’s North Coast communities,” said Paul Taylor, NaiKun Wind’s President and CEO. “The NaiKun Wind project will play an important role in helping the province reach its goal of becoming electricity self-sufficient by 2016 while also providing major economic benefits to B.C.’s North Coast communities.”
Thunder Mountain Wind Limited Partnership, also in BC, announced the same day that it has also received an environmental assessment certificate for its Thunder Mountain Wind Project. The proposed $1 billion project will produce up to 320 megawatts of electricity. The project is located approximately 45 kilometres southeast of Tumbler Ridge and consists of approximately 160 wind turbine generators, five substations, a 65-kilometre transmission line, access and maintenance roads, and associated infrastructure.