The Community of Kinkora is today celebrating the completion of a project aimed at creating an environmentally friendly, energy efficient community.
The Honorable Gail Shea, Federal Minister of Fisheries and Oceans; the Honorable Ron MacKinley, Provincial Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure Renewal; and Community Chairman Roger Savoie were on hand today to announce the completion of the Kinkora Wind Turbine Project.
“The Government of Canada is delivering tangible results for the residents in Kinkora and Prince Edward Island,” said Minister Shea. “The wind turbines project is an example of what we are doing to keep Canadians working, our economy growing and our communities green.”
The Federal and Provincial Governments, through the Building Canada Fund (BCF) provided a total of $125, 938 toward the purchase and installation of two wind turbines in Kinkora.
The Kinkora Wind Turbine project also benefitted from $31,485 from the Canada-Prince Edward Island Gas Tax Agreement. The Municipality of Kinkora matched this amount providing $31, 485 toward the project. The governments of Canada and Prince Edward Island recognize that for municipalities to remain competitive and prosperous, they need stable long-term funding. As of April 2009, the federal Gas Tax Fund increased to $2 billion per year. Prince Edward Island will receive $97.5 million in Gas Tax Funds by 2014.
“I want to congratulate the community of Kinkora for taking a leadership role by demonstrating the importance of creating environmentally friendly sources of electricity,” said Minister MacKinley. “This shows, once again, that Island communities are well suited to produce clean energy from wind.”
This initiative is part of the provincial government’s overall strategy to invest and strengthen communities throughout rural Prince Edward Island and to continue towards a path of sustainable development.
“Kinkora is committed to protecting the environment and improving the quality of the life for residents,” said Community Chair Roger Savoie. “This is a historic day for this community.”
The wind turbine project consists of two 20 kw turbine structures which can generate enough power to provide electricity to the Kinkora Community Centre and Fire Hall. The community will save $13,350 annually in electric bills. The wind turbines are expected to generate 75,000 kwh. Some of that energy will be used to support a recently installed Geo-Thermal Heating System at the two facilities.