Wind Power Project Will Proceed - With or Without Partner

REGINA - SaskPower is going ahead with a $250 million project to expand its wind power capacity.

The Rush Lake project was in doubt after ATCO, an Alberta company, pulled out of a partnership with the Crown utility earlier this year.

On Monday, Frank Quennell, the minister responsible for SaskPower, confirmed the government is proceeding on the project, with or without a partner.

He says work will begin immediately.

"We're very excited about it," says Quennell. "I'm glad that the initial uncertainty that surrounded the project after ATCO's withdrawal is now over, [and] we can confirm that we're now going ahead."

Quennell expects the Rush Lake wind project will generate enough electricity to power 64,000 houses by the end of next year.

The output will be 10 times that of the current wind power project near Gull Lake.

Quennell says the government is still open to the idea of a partnership in the venture.

http://sask.cbc.ca/regional/servlet/View?filename=wind_power041018