Ginoogaming looking for renewable energy project partners

Clean, green energy is blowing in the wind.
Ginoogaming First Nation is looking for a partner to harness it. The community is offering a partnership with a wind energy firm to continue development of its 10-megawatt (MW) wind farm, located near Longlac, 350 kilometres northeast of Thunder Bay.
“The renewable clean, green energy could generate electricity to power thousands of homes in the area and will avoid tons of carbon dioxide emissions,” said Chief Celia Echum of Ginoogaming. “As this is the fastest-growing energy source in the world, abundant, safe, renewable wind power is a very promising investment opportunity.”
In May 2009, a meteorological tower was installed on Ginoogaming’s land to capture wind data to provide the First Nation with valuable information for its first phase feasibility study. Wind speed is a crucial element in projecting turbine performance as the project moves to the second phase, explained Ginoogaming economic development adviser Adolph Rasevych.
“This expansion of wind power would create jobs, directly and indirectly, during construction followed by permanent jobs later,” Rasevych said.
A 10-MW set of wind turbines can produce more than 30 million kWh in a year. There would be enough energy produced to power more than 2,800 households. The project size of megawatts produced could be increased depending upon interests of potential partners, Rasevych said.
As partners, Ginoogaming First Nation and the firm would jointly provide equity and seek project finances to complete construction and installation of the wind turbines, Rasevych said.
Financial details, including the capital costs of the project and the amount of the equity and finances required will depend upon the project size and have not yet been finalized.