Turbines turning on a back road in this township will soon be powering Canadians’ pensions, as well as Ontario’s power grid.
The Canada Pension Plan Investment Board (CPPIB), the agency that manages the federal government-mandated pension fund, is purchasing six operating wind and solar power projects in southern Ontario as part of a $741-million deal with global power giant NextEra Energy Partners.
Pending regulatory approval, the investment firm will own and operate four wind and two solar developments in the region by mid-2018, including the Conestogo Wind Energy Centre in Mapleton.
In an April 20 letter updating Mapleton council on the sale, NextEra Energy senior environmental specialist Derek Dudek explained that existing contracts and agreements associated with the project, including those between the company and the Township of Mapleton will remain in place, since the company (as a whole) will be sold.
Councillor Lori Woodham asked about the status of community contributions agreed to by NextEra.
CAO Manny Baron reported that commitments by the company to provide $100,000 over five years to Trees For Mapleton and $9,000 toward an electronic sign at the PMD arena have been fulfilled.
Baron said the township’s contract with the company included an option to extend the community contribution agreement for an additional five years at the company’s discretion, “so potentially another $100,000.”
The CAO said an email had been sent to Dudek indicating the township would be interested in extending the agreement.
“Funnily enough, I’m yet to hear anything. But we asked,” said Baron.
