What’s new with wind?

Cleantech in Canada seminar series

Toronto, May 12, 2010 – Cleantech industry leaders Deloitte and Ogilvy Renault, along with MaRS Discovery District, hosted the latest in the Cleantech in Canada seminar series today at MaRS Centre. Industry experts shared their thoughts on key emerging opportunities for cleantech entrepreneurs, investors and government in the wind industry.

“Wind power is seen as the ‘elder brother’ of renewable energy—it’s stable, reliable and has been around for centuries,” says John Ruffolo, National Leader of Deloitte’s Technology, Media & Telecommunications Industry Group. “But new technologies and investments are transforming the industry and giving it new prominence in the energy mix. Wind power is becoming more dynamic than ever.”

The Cleantech in Canada panel was moderated by Duncan Stewart, Director of Research at Deloitte. Panellists included:

  • Thomas Schneider, Founder, Vice Chairman and President, Schneider Power Inc.
  • Nicole Geneau, Project Manager, Nextera Energy Resources
  • John McIlveen, Research Director, Jacob Securities Inc.

“It’s a promising time for the wind industry, especially here in Ontario,” says Rick Sutin, Co-Chair of Ogilvy Renault’s Cleantech practice. “The impact of the province’s Feed-in Tariff program and recent investments worth $15 billion in renewable energy projects will be huge. It will be a busy time for the wind industry in Ontario in the coming years.”

Last month, the Ontario government awarded 184 projects across the province to generate almost 2,500 megawatts of renewable energy. Almost 50 of the projects are wind. The investment is worth over $8-billion and this is on top of the recent $7 billion deal between Ontario and Samsung to develop renewable energy projects.

“There is a major opportunity for the community power sector to capitalize on the growth of wind and other renewable energy production in Ontario,” says MaRS CEO Ilse Treurnicht. “To leverage this opportunity, power funders, financial instruments, suppliers and operators need to be engaged. We are working to stimulate interest and present methods of participation.”

As Canada’s leading innovation centre, MaRS brings together leaders across a range of disciplines—in science, business and beyond—to help boost the success of emerging ventures and to stimulate a broader culture of innovation.

For additional news, resources and information regarding this event and upcoming seminars as well as other cleantech-related topics, visit our Cleantech in Canada Web site at www.cleantechincanada.com.

You can also follow us on Twitter at www.twitter.com/canadacleantech.

 

About Deloitte
Deloitte, one of Canada’s leading professional services firms, provides audit, tax, consulting, and financial advisory services through more than 7,700 people in 58 offices. Deloitte operates in Québec as Samson Bélair/Deloitte & Touche s.e.n.c.r.l. Deloitte & Touche LLP, an Ontario Limited Liability Partnership, is the Canadian member firm of Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu.

Deloitte refers to one or more of Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu, a Swiss Verein, and its network of member firms, each of which is a legally separate and independent entity. Please see www.deloitte.com/about for a detailed description of the legal structure of Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu and its member firms.

About Ogilvy Renault
Ogilvy Renault LLP is a full-service law firm with close to 450 lawyers and patent and trade-mark agents practising in the areas of business, litigation, intellectual property, and employment and labour. Ogilvy Renault has offices in Montréal, Ottawa, Québec, Toronto, Calgary and London (UK), and serves some of the largest and most successful corporations in Canada and in more than 120 countries worldwide. Find out more at http://www.ogilvyrenault.com/.

About MaRS
MaRS Discovery District (www.marsdd.com) is a mission driven innovation centre in Toronto focused on building Canada’s next generation of high growth technology and social purpose businesses.

Contacts
Robyn Matsumoto
Director, Marketing and Communications
Deloitte
416.601.6118
rmatsumoto@deloitte.ca

Peter Zvanitajs
Senior Advisor, Media Relations
Ogilvy Renault
416.216.1871
pzvanitajs@ogilvyrenault.com

Linda Quattrin
Director, Communications
MaRS Discovery District
416.673.8104
lquattrin@marsdd.com