2012 Rank: 85

2011 Rank: New

Sector: Wind

Location: Chatham-Kent, Ontario

Owner: GDF Suez and International Power (70% owned by GDF)

Funding: Private

Status: Under construction, with expected completion in 2013.

Description:

A 99 MW wind farm located in southern Ontario. GDF-Suez has 70 per cent ownership in the project and has received a 20-year PPA from the OPA. Construction is set to begin in 2012 with completion expected in 2013.

2012 Rank: 57

2011 Rank: New

Sector: Transmission

Location: North of Prince Rupert, near Bob Quinn Lake, BC

Owner: BC Hydro

Key Players:

Contractor: Burns & McDonnell, Valaard Construction (design, procurement, construction)

Funding: Public

Status: Under construction, with expected completion in 2013.

Description:

The Northwest Transmission Line will run 344 kilometres from Skeena Substation, near Terrace, to Bob Quinn Lake. The project will bring the British Columbia electrical grip to an area that is currently not connected. This will allow for the development of future energy and industrial resource projects. Construction is set to begin shortly, with completion scheduled for 2013.

2012 Rank: 55

2011 Rank: New

Sector: Wind

Location: Vulcan County, near the Village of Carmangay, Alberta

Owner:

Key Players: Supplier: Vestas Canada (turbines); Other: Stantec (EA)

Funding: Private

Status: Under construction, with expected completion in 2013.

Description:

This 300 MW, 166 turbine, wind energy project is expected to be the largest wind farm in Canada. It’s construction ready, with completion expected in 2013. Greengate Power received approval from the Alberta Utilities Commission in March 2011. A companion project, the 300 MW Blackspring Ridge II Wind Project, is in an earlier stage of development. Greengate Power also has a contract with Pacific Gas & Electric in California to supply it with renewable energy credits. Each MW of energy produced is the equivalent of a renewable energy credit and allows Pacific Gas & Electric to fulfill its regulatory obligation to purchase 20 per cent of its power from renewable energy sources.

2012 Rank: 33

2011 Rank: New

Sector: Wind

Location: Township of Ashfield-Colborne-Wawanosh, Ontario

Owner: Capital Power LP, and Samsung Renewable Energy Inc. and Pattern Renewable Holdings Canada ULC

Key Players:

Contractor: Samsung (engineering, procurement, construction)

Funding: Private

Status: Commercial operation is expected to begin in 2014

Description:

The project, formerly known as the Kingsbridge II Wind Power Project, has a 20-year Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) from Ontario Power Authority under the Feed-in Tariff program. Commercial operation is expected to begin in 2014 on the 270 MW wind energy facility. The three partners share equal stakes in the project and Capital Power will manage the project lease agreements and development work completed prior to the partnership agreement. Samsung and Pattern are responsible for contributing the PPA and transmission access rights. This is presumably being undertaken through Samsung’s Green Energy Investment Agreement with the government of Ontario. Capital Power will remain in charge of managing the Renewable Energy Approval process for the remainder of the project.

2012 Rank: 29

2011 Rank: New

Sector: Nuclear

Location: Kincardine, Ontario

Owner: Ontario Power Generation

Funding: Public

Status: Seeking a license to construct in 2012.

Description:

OPG is building this underground storage facility to house low and intermediate level waste. Low-level waste consists of material that may be contaminated through the normal course of operations at a nuclear facility and includes paper towels, mops, and used tools. While low-level waste does not require specialized shielding for workers, the intermediate was will require special handling and it can consist of items such as irradiated core components, ion exchange resins and various filters. The Environmental Impact Statement has been completed, and OPG will be seeking a license to construct in 2012.

2012 Rank: 28

2011 Rank: New

Sector: CCS

Location: Estevan, Saskachewan

Owner: SaskPower

Key Players:

Engineer: SNC-Lavalin (engineering, procurement, construction);

Contractor: Stantec (design, construction);

Supplier: Cansolv, wholly owned subsidiary of Shell Global Solutions (carbon capture process); Hitachi (steam turbine)

Funding: Public/Private

Status: Under construction, with expected completion in 2015.

Description:

The Boundary Dam Integrated CCS Demonstration Project will refurbish Unit 3 at the Boundary Dam coal power station. The refurbishment includes the world’s largest CCS project that will utilize carbon capture for enhanced oil recovery. The project has the potential to capture an estimated 3 million tonnes of CO2 annually.

2012 Rank: 19

2011 Rank: New

Sector: Coal

Location: Grande Cache, Alberta

Owner: Maxim Power

Funding: Private

Status: Under construction, with expected completion in 2015.

Description:

In August 2011 Maxim Power received approval from the Alberta Utilities Commission to expand the existing 150 MW Milner Power plant to a 500 MW power plant. Construction is expected to start in the summer of 2012 and continue until 2015. According to Maxim, the facility will include an advanced emissions control system designed to meet provincial air quality guidelines. However, environmental organizations have criticized this project, as well as the Alberta Utilities Commission for allowing this project to proceed. New federal coal plant regulations that make either CCS or emissions limits no higher than a high-efficiency natural gas plant mandatory come into effect in 2015. The approval of this project has raised questions about whether it has been fast tracked to avoid compliance with the incoming regulations.

Sector: Hydroelectric

2012 Ranking: 2

2011 Ranking: New

Location: 7 KM Southwest of Fort St. John

Owner: BC Hydro

Key Players: British Columbia Environmental Assessment Agency and Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency (joint review panel for EA)

Funding: Public

Description:

This 1,100-megawatt (MW) hydroelectric earthfill dam is the source of considerable debate. Proponents, primarily BC Hydro and the Government of British Columbia, argue that the project will be a source of long-term, low-cost clean energy. Opponents are concerned about the cost of the project, the lack of public input, and the environmental impact of the dam itself. The project is currently undergoing an EA, with no firm completion date set. While this project is still in the planning phase, it seems set to move forward towards approval and construction. This is because of the massive energy requirements for a number of proposed natural gas and mining operations. The province is banking on expanding heavy industry to fuel economic expansion. However, with heavy industry comes a need for more energy, which has many people questioning whether the $7.9 billion of public money being spent is of benefit for the public or mostly the private sector.