DENVER — Broomfield-based Renewable Energy Systems Americas Inc. (RES Americas) has signed an agreement with Enbridge, Inc. to own and operate the 250-megawatt (MW) Cedar Point Wind Energy Project east of Denver. Enbridge’s investment in the project will be approximately $500 million and RES Americas will construct it under a fixed-price engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) contract to a U.S. Enbridge division.

The new development is par for the course for this mega-wind player, adding to RES America’s 4,800 MW + worth of projects under construction or already built. The company 
is a fully-integrated renewable energy company that develops, constructs, owns and operates projects across the United States (U.S.), Canada, Mexico and the Caribbean. Construction of the project will begin shortly with substantial completion expected in late 2011. Once operational, the development, which is mainly located in Lincoln and Elbert counties, will deliver electricity to the Public Service Company of Colorado (PSCo) electricity transmission grid under a 20-year, fixed-price power purchase agreement.

“The Cedar Point Wind Energy Project upholds RES Americas’ commitment to provide clean renewable energy and jobs to the state of Colorado,” said Richard Ashby, CFO of RES Americas. “Working with Enbridge and PSCo, RES Americas is excited to contribute to the state’s goals of providing economic benefits to the community and helping ensure a secure energy future.”

“Renewable energy aligns very well with our objective to profitably grow our energy infrastructure business,” said Al Monaco, Executive Vice President, Major Projects and Green Energy for Enbridge Inc. “We are also very pleased to once again work with RES Americas.”

<I>More good news for Colorado</I>: Vestas plants here will produce 139 V90-1.8 MW turbines for the Cedar Point Wind project “Cedar Point Wind will benefit Colorado in two ways – by supplying clean energy to Colorado homes under a 20-year power purchase agreement with Public Service Company of Colorado and by providing employment in the form of up to 200 new construction jobs with more jobs to follow once construction is complete,” said Martha Wyrsch, President of Vestas Americas.

“We are extremely pleased to work with Public Service Company of Colorado (PSCo), an Xcel Energy Company, to deliver turbines made from our factories in Windsor, Brighton and Pueblo,
Colorado.”

The Cedar Point Wind Energy Project brings Enbridge’s interests in renewable energy projects to eight facilities, including interests in wind and solar projects, a hybrid fuel cell and waste heat recovery facilities. The Cedar Point Wind Energy Project will comprise 139 Vestas 1.8 MW turbines, which will be connected to the PSCo grid by a 42-mile transmission line. RES Americas will construct the wind farm and transmission line under a fixed price, turnkey EPC agreement with Enbridge. Vestas will provide operations and maintenance services under a five-year, fixed price service, maintenance and warranty agreement.

Development of the Cedar Point Wind Energy Project aligns not only with Enbridge’s goals, but with those of the state of Colorado as well. On March 22, 2010, Colorado Gov. Bill Ritter signed into law landmark legislation that gives the state the highest renewable energy standard in the Rocky Mountain West, requiring that 30 percent of the state’s electricity be generated from renewable sources by 2020. “The Cedar Point Wind Energy Project will help provide Colorado’s supply of clean, reliable power while bringing jobs and economic development to communities in our state, fulfilling our promise of a new energy economy,” said Gov. Ritter.

Enbridge and RES Americas expect the project will create up to 250 construction jobs and, through its ongoing operations, generate revenue for businesses in the region.

CEDAR POINT WIND ENERGY PROJECT AT A GLANCE:

→ Capacity peak: about 250 MW

→ Turbines: 139 Vestas 1.8 MW turbines

→ Annual yield: approximately 875,000 MWh (corresponding to the annual consumption of around 80,000 Colorado households)

→ CO2 saving: about 710,000 tons per year