TransAlta building wind farm in New Brunswick

TransAlta (TSX: TA) (NYSE: TAC) today announced it has been awarded a 25-year power purchase agreement to provide 75-megawatts (MW) of wind power to New Brunswick Power Distribution and Customer Service Corporation.

Under the agreement, TransAlta will construct, own and operate a wind power facility in the Canadian province of New Brunswick. Terms of the agreement are confidential, but the capital cost of the project is estimated to be $130 million.

The project is subject to regulatory and environmental approvals and is expected to begin commercial operations by the end of 2008.

Natural Forces Technologies Inc., a local Atlantic Canada wind developer is TransAlta's co-development partner in this project.

"We've been building wind farms in Western Canada for 10 years and see this as an opportunity to expand our wind power expertise into a market that has expressed a desire for clean, renewable energy," said Steve Snyder, TransAlta's President and CEO.

The single-site, 25-turbine wind farm will be located in the Kent Hills area of New Brunswick. TransAlta expects construction to commence by early 2008. TransAlta will work with local firms for the construction and ongoing operation of the Kent Hills wind farm.

Once complete, the facility is to provide 220,000 megawatt hours per year, enough electricity to meet the needs of approximately 13,600 homes.

The facility will use 3.0 MW wind turbines purchased from Vestas-Canada Wind Technology Inc. for wind power turbines.

With the addition of Kent Hills, TransAlta will operate approximately 260 MW of wind generated power in Canada.

TransAlta, a nearly 100-year-old company, operates a portfolio in Canada, the United States, Mexico and Australia.

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