The Government of Canada announced important investments today that support its commitment to increase the supply of clean,renewable energy for Canadians while helping to grow Canada’s wind power industry.

The Honourable Peter MacKay, Minister of National Defence and Minister of the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA) was joined by the Honourable Richard Brown, PEI’s Minister of Innovation and Advanced Learning, to unveil plans to establish a Wind Turbine Service Technician training program at Holland College and announce renewed support for the Wind Energy Institute of Canada (WEICan).  

“The Government of Canada has been a strong supporter of the wind-energy industry in Canada,” said Minister MacKay. “Supporting energy-efficient and renewable-energy technologies is an integral part of our government’s action on climate change.”

“Our province is very interested in seeing development of renewable energies like wind – as an environmentally friendly power source and as an economic opportunity based around the Island’s favourable wind resource,” said Minister Brown. “The Province of Prince Edward Island has announced funding for Holland College’s training program and wind energy research and we intend to continue with our support of the wind energy industry for years to come as this sector is highlighted in the province of PEI's new innovation strategy, Island Prosperity: A Focus For Change.”

The Wind Turbine Service Technician Centre’s new training program will increase the number of qualified turbine technicians available to meet the growing needs of the wind energy industry.  ACOA will invest $480,000 in the project.  The Government of Prince Edward Island will contribute $450,000, while the Wind Energy Institute of Canada will provide $155,000.  Holland College will invest $148,000.  

The Government of Canada, through Natural Resources Canada and the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency, also announced it intends to continue supporting wind-energy research at the Wind Energy Institute of Canada (WEICan) through a $2 million investment over three years. Minister MacKay announced the funding commitment today on behalf of the Honourable Gary Lunn, Minister of Natural Resources.

The provincial government is investing $855,000 over three years in the Institute. Minister Brown said the province was pleased to see the federal commitment to wind energy research in the province.

"I'm proud that Natural Resources Canada, through the ecoENERGY initiative, is continuing to support the important wind-energy research and development being done here in P.E.I.," said Minister Lunn. "These two important announcements are another demonstration of our Government's determination to ensure that Canadians enjoy a healthy environment and a growing, prosperous economy."

Natural Resources Canada is working closely with WEICan to formalize the terms and conditions of this contribution and anticipates receiving WEICan’s revised business plan.

“We’re very pleased to receive this commitment from the Government of Canada and we look forward to seeing the details of this commitment once it has been negotiated by the funding partners,” said Richard Hassard of WEICan. “Our goal is to advance wind-energy research and to provide the best technology possible to support Canada’s growing wind-energy industry.”

The Wind Energy Institute of Canada, established in 2005, is Canada's leading testing and research institute for wind-energy systems.