Naikun prepares to seek out BC Hyrdo contract

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Next month BC Hydro is expected to put out a call for independent power producers to provide the provincial hydro company with 5,000 gigawatt hours of energy per year.

When they do, Naikun Wind Energy is ready to put in their bid for a share and hopefully secure a firm comittment to market their wind generated power supplies from the Queen Charlotte Islands.

The background of the Hydro request and Naikun's proposal was found in the Thursday edition of the Daily News.

NaiKun plans to answer call for green power
By Leanne Ritchie
The Daily News
Thursday, September 27, 2007

Pages one and three

When B.C. Hydro holds a call for clean energy proposals next month, the NaiKun Wind Energy project off the Queen Charlotte Islands will answer.

On Wednesday, B.C. Hydro announced its next call for energy proposals will be a green call, seeking up to 5,000 gigawatt hours of energy per year - enough to power 500,000 households in B.C. - through a competitive process involving independent power producers across the province.

If NaiKun's project is chosen, it would give the company a guaranteed purchaser for the wind farm's power.

"We were particularly pleased and delighted that this call will focus only on clean energy sources. This signals to us that large scale wind energy projects, such as NaiKun, will be necessary in order to meet the aggressive targets and timeline suggested by the Energy Plan and this announcement" said Ray Castelli, president and CEO of NaiKun Wind Development Inc.
"NaiKun looks forward to providing input into the draft terms of the clean call and are currently preparing our bid."

NaiKun is proposing to build a five-phase wind power project in the Hecate Strait. The first phase will be for 320 megawatts and is currently under development. Construction is expected to commence in 2009.

A key aspect of the proposed project is HaidaLink: Haida Gwaii's interconnection to the main energy grid via NaiKun's wind farm. This initiative is being developed jointly by NaiKun and the Haida Power Authority.

Richard Neufeld, Minister of Energy, Mines and Petroleum Resources, said by issuing a call for clean power, B.C. Hydro is playing a leadership role in developing clean energy alternatives to make the province energy self-sufficient while taking responsibility for the environment and climate.

The B.C. Energy Plan set out a goal that 90 per cent of all electricity generated in the province must continue to come from clean or renewable sources and all new electricity generation projects will have zero net greenhouse gas emissions.

Currently, BC Hydro is a net importer of electricity and demand for energy is expected to grow by up to 45 per cent over the next 20 years.

The Clean Power Call will target clean energy from larger projects using proven technologies - for example: hydro, wind, solar, and geothermal energy, among others.

To achieve a clean distinction, a power facility would have to meet the province's guidelines for clean energy, which are currently being updated.

The Clean Call process begins with the issuance of draft terms and conditions next month. Independent power producers, First Nations and stakeholders are invited to provide input and comment on the draft terms prior to their finalization.

If NaiKun bids and is chosen as a power producer, B.C. Hydro and NaiKun would then sign an agreement for the province to purchase power from the Vancouver-based company.

In B.C. Hydro's 2006 call for independent power producers, some $230 million-worth of power projects on the North Coast that will generate enough 'green' electricity to power 81,000 homes got the thumbs up.

B.C. Hydro agreed to purchase power from Katabatic Power - which is proposing a 14-turbine wind farm on Mount Hays - and the Anyox Hydro Electric Corp - which is restoring the old power generation facilities around the old company towns of Anyox and Alice Arm.
Both are now under construction or in operation.

Province-wide, B.C. Hydro accepted 38 contracts from independent power producers in order to meet the growing demand for electricity.