ENMAX Corporation is pleased to announce the start of construction on the Calgary Downtown District Energy Centre. The heat generating facility, located at 9th Avenue and 4th Street SE, is part of the multi-phase Calgary District Energy Project which will provide heating to up to 10 million square feet of new and existing downtown buildings through a network of underground insulated pipes.
The Centre will be owned by a subsidiary of ENMAX, which will develop and operate the facility and its related thermal distribution system. Construction on the facility will commence in September 2008 with commercial operation anticipated for late 2009.
"We're pleased to be able to contribute the technology and expertise required to bring a District Energy system to downtown Calgary, making it a first for the City and one of the largest non-institutional systems of its kind in Western Canada," said Gary Holden, President and CEO of ENMAX Corporation. "The District Energy Centre is one of the ways ENMAX is committed to providing energy-efficient solutions for consumers."
Construction of the Centre is made possible with funding from the Governments of Canada and Alberta and The City of Calgary. Through the Canada-Alberta Municipal Rural Infrastructure Fund (CAMRIF), the federal and provincial governments will each contribute $10 million and the City of Calgary will contribute $11.8 million.
"Construction of the Calgary Downtown District Energy Centre is a strong step toward energy efficiency in Alberta and sustainable growth in Calgary," said Wayne Cao, MLA for Calgary-Fort. "The Energy Centre will substantially reduce fuel consumption and greenhouse gases, helping secure our province's resources for generations to come."
The City of Calgary announced its approval for the District Energy Project in March 2007. The project is strategically located to service current municipal-owned and selected future downtown buildings and is considered integral to the development of the East Village.
"It is an opportunity that doesn't come around very often," said City of Calgary Alderman Druh Farrell. "We need to replace all of the infrastructure in East Village anyway, and district energy needs density in order to work. We have been able to partner with ENMAX to help rebuild East Village into one of Calgary's most sustainable communities. It's perfect."
"This project is an essential component in preparing our community to successfully meet the economic, environmental, and energy challenge facing us now and in the future," added Alderman Bob Hawkesworth.
CAMRIF is a partnership among the federal, provincial and municipal governments. Over the program's life, CAMRIF will direct at least $264 million in federal, provincial and municipal funding to enhance municipal infrastructure and improve Albertans' quality of life through investments that protect the environment and support long-term economic growth.
ENMAX Corporation, through subsidiaries and predecessors, has provided Albertans with safe and reliable electricity for more than 100 years. ENMAX provides electricity, natural gas and value-added services to more than half a million residential, commercial and industrial customer accounts in Alberta. Through a subsidiary, ENMAX Energy is one of Alberta’s largest investors in renewable energy with partial ownership of the McBride Lake Wind Farm and complete ownership of the Taber and Kettles Hill Wind Farms. ENMAX Energy’s Greenmax was one of the first green power marketing programs in Canada, and celebrates its 10th anniversary in 2008. Visit our website at enmax.com.
You can choose any retailer listed at www.ucahelps.gov.ab.ca or at 310-4822. Electricity delivery to your home or business isn't affected by your choice of retailer.