To offset the emissions from the purchase of conventional sources of power generation, we’ve consistently offered our customers alternative energy options. Subsidiaries of ENMAX Energy own 50% of the McBride Lake 75 MW wind farm in Alberta and 99% of the Furry Creek run-of-river hydro generation facility in BC.
In 2007, we officially commissioned the Taber wind farm, adding up to 80 MW of clean, renewable electricity to the provincial power grid. Developed by ENMAX Green Power Inc. at a cost of nearly $140 million, the Taber wind farm is the largest capital project in our history to date. It features the world's most advanced wind turbine technology, and with its 37 turbines, generates enough electricity to power 32,000 homes. The McBride Lake wind farm consists of 114 turbines with a total power output of 75 MW.
The Taber wind farm represents close to four years of planning, construction and collaboration with the Government of Canada, the Province of Alberta and the City of Calgary. The Government of Canada will contribute $23.5 million over 10 years toward production of electricity from the wind farm. The City of Calgary was the Taber wind farm's first customer, and signed a 20-year commitment to purchase 100% of the output from the facility.
The City of Calgary's commitment makes it the only major municipal government in Canada to draw at least three-quarters of its electricity from green power. And the volume of output it has agreed to purchase (262,500 MWh) is among the largest green-power usage commitment of any municipality in North America.