The Tsleil-Waututh Nation people believe in a sacred trust – a responsibility to care for our traditional territory and engage in sustainable development. Sustainable, community-based economic development is at the heart of our vision moving the Nation forward. With that in mind, we are very pleased to announce today that the Tsleil-Waututh Nation has made a $2-million equity investment in Surrey-based wind turbine manufacturer Endurance Wind Power.
As part of the partnership, our new business venture TWN Wind Power will become the distributor of Endurance’s community-based wind turbines to First Nations and Indigenous groups in both Canada and the United States.
(Please find the full press release included below and a PDF version linked here.)
Cutline:
Chief Justin George of the Tsleil-Waututh Nation in Vancouver announces the launch of TWN Wind Power and a partnership with wind turbine manufacturer Endurance Wind Power. Glenn Johnson, President and CEO of the Surrey, British Columbia-based wind turbine manufacturer looks on. TWN has made a $2-million equity investment in Endurance and will become the distributor of the company’s 5kW and 50kW community-based wind turbines to First Nations and Indigenous groups throughout Canada and the United States.
For Immediate Release
Thursday February 17, 2011
TSLEIL-WAUTUTH NATION INVESTING IN A GREEN FUTURE
Vancouver 2010 Host Nation & Endurance Wind Power join forces to create a sustainable future for First Nations
VANCOUVER, B.C. – The Tsleil-Waututh Nation (TWN) has made a $2-million equity investment in Surrey-based wind energy manufacturer Endurance Wind Power. As part of the partnership, TWN Wind Power Inc. will become the distributor of Endurance Wind Power’s 5kW and 50kW community-based wind turbines to First Nations and Indigenous groups in Canada and the United States.
As the first partnership of its kind in Canada, TWN Wind Power Inc. is stepping to the forefront of a shift in thinking for First Nation communities across the country, while expanding the Tsleil-Waututh Nation’s economic development ventures into the growing renewable energy sector.
As one of the Four Host First Nations for the Vancouver 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games, TWN is establishing itself as a leader in the effort to help First Nation communities generate a reliable, renewable supply of energy that will reduce their overall energy costs, and enable them to invest in other economic and social development priorities. To finance the deal, TWN has accessed financial support through a number of economic development programs administered by Indian and Northern Affairs Canada that will support TWN in creating long-term legacies from the 2010 Games.
In launching this new partnership with successful, locally-owned and operated Endurance Wind Power, TWN plans to create jobs, grow the community-based wind industry and provide renewable energy for First Nations for generations to come.
“We are proud to be the catalyst for change in the way First Nations in this country generate power,” said Tsleil-Waututh Nation Chief Justin George. “With Endurance Wind Power’s innovative technology, we are striving to help Canada’s First Nations reduce their dependence on non-renewable sources of power while preserving the environment we so depend on.”
Endurance Wind Power’s advanced small turbine technology brings the benefits of renewable energy within the reach of small communities, homeowners, farmers, businesses, and institutions across North America, the United Kingdom and an expanding global market. While utility-grade wind farms can take up to five years to go from concept to operation, Endurance’s small-scale turbines can provide power generation to First Nation communities in just a matter of months.
“This partnership with the Tsleil-Waututh Nation serves as a fantastic opportunity for Endurance to provide First Nation communities in B.C. and across the country with power derived from a clean resource,” said Endurance Wind Power President & CEO Glenn Johnson. “Our 50 kilowatt turbine can provide enough power for up to 20 homes, while the 5 kilowatt unit is a perfect electricity solution for one or two homes.”
TWN’s equity investment along with the distribution agreement with Endurance Wind Power adds a new pillar in its diversified business interests. In addition to pursuing community-based turbine installations throughout North America, TWN is also exploring other joint venture opportunities with Endurance to expand its business interests in the wind energy sector.
“First Nations are pursuing many opportunities to become economically self-sufficient in order to create healthy, secure communities for our people,” said Assembly of First Nations National Chief Shawn Atleo. “The creation of TWN Wind Power is a huge step forward in terms of generating clean, green power, wealth, and employment in B.C. and across the country. First Nations are well-positioned to be leaders in development that is responsible and sustainable and I congratulate the Tsleil-Waututh Nation on their new partnership with Endurance Wind Power.”
About The Tsleil-Waututh Nation – www.twnwindpower.com
The Tsleil-Waututh Nation is a small but growing community of 500 located in Greater Vancouver. TWN aims to be active participants in all social, economic, cultural, and political activities that take place on their traditional territories by thinking big and acting decisively to care for their lands and waters. TWN own and operate seven businesses in the alternative energy, tourism, construction, real estate and retail sectors. With its newest venture, TWN Wind Power Inc., the nation is actively pursuing business opportunities to bring clean, renewable energy within reach of remote and rural First Nations to create a sustainable future for Aboriginal people.
About Endurance Wind Power – www.endurancewindpower.com
Endurance Wind Power is a manufacturer of advanced small wind turbines, designed specifically for distributed wind power applications. Their line of modern, induction-based wind turbines brings efficient, reliable, safe and quiet, renewable energy within reach of homeowners, farmers, businesses and institutions across North America, the United Kingdom and an expanding global market.
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NOTE TO EDITORS: HD video B-roll is available for download from the TWN Wind Power website at: https://www.yousendit.com/download/MzZHRGx3NDRsamRjR0E9PQ
Media Contacts:
TWN Wind Power
Bill Eisenhauer, Good Relations, Inc.
250-383-5605 or 250-744-4748 (mobile)
bill@goodrelations.ca
Brian Hanson, Endurance Wind Power
604-579-9439
bhanson@endurancewindpower.com
Fact Sheet
(Please find a PDF version of the fact sheet linked here.)
There are more than 1200 First Nation communities across Canada and the United States. Community-based wind power is like the 100-mile diet – you consume the energy where you generate it. It is a sustainable option for many First Nations, particularly rural and remote communities, reducing dependency on other non-renewable sources of power.
- An average home consumes 12,000-15,000 kWh of electricity per year. Producing that electricity from a community-based small wind turbine will save 15 tonnes of CO2 from being released into the atmosphere, compared to electricity generated from fossil fuel. (Based on research from the U.S. Department of Energy, will vary by region)
- Endurance manufactures two types of community-based wind power turbines: the E-3120 50kW turbine can power up to 20 homes and the S-343 5kW model can produce enough energy to power one-to-two homes.
- Endurance wind turbine owners can count on their turbines for a 20-plus year lifespan.
- Endurance wind turbines are the quietest in their class – when standing as little as 50 metres away from a turbine, the noise emitted is no louder than the wind it takes to generate the electricity.
- Many European countries produce more than 10% of their electricity from wind power. Canada produces less than 1%.
- The Canadian Wind Energy Association (CanWEA) believes that wind energy could satisfy 20% of Canada’s electrical demand by 2025, adding 55,000MW of clean generating capacity will strengthen the electrical grids and head off potential power shortages while stabilizing energy costs, cutting Canada’s annual greenhouse gas emissions by 17 megatonnes.
- Small wind power turbines leave behind zero emissions, as compared to a typical standby diesel generator that emits air pollutants and produces greenhouse gas emissions.
- There are more than 1200 First Nation communities across Canada and the United States. Community-based wind power is like the 100-mile diet – you consume the energy where you generate it. It is a sustainable option for many First Nations, particularly rural and remote communities, reducing dependency on other non-renewable sources of power.
- An average home consumes 12,000-15,000 kWh of electricity per year. Producing that electricity from a community-based small wind turbine will save 15 tonnes of CO2 from being released into the atmosphere, compared to electricity generated from fossil fuel. (Based on research from the U.S. Department of Energy, will vary by region)
- Endurance manufactures two types of community-based wind power turbines: the E-3120 50kW turbine can power up to 20 homes and the S-343 5kW model can produce enough energy to power one-to-two homes.
- Endurance wind turbine owners can count on their turbines for a 20-plus year lifespan.
- Endurance wind turbines are the quietest in their class
- When standing as little as 50 metres away from a turbine, the noise emitted is no louder than the wind it takes to generate the electricity.
- Many European countries produce more than 10% of their electricity from wind power. Canada produces less than 1%.
- The Canadian Wind Energy Association (CanWEA) believes that wind energy could satisfy 20% of Canada’s electrical demand by 2025, adding 55,000MW of clean generating capacity will strengthen the electrical grids and head off potential power shortages while stabilizing energy costs, cutting Canada’s annual greenhouse gas emissions by 17 megatonnes.
- Small wind power turbines leave behind zero emissions, as compared to a typical standby diesel generator that emits air pollutants and produces greenhouse gas emissions.
Community- Based Wind Projects
- Two-four turbines at a height of up to 43m
- Turbine blades lengths from 3-9m
- Privately owned by individuals or businesses
- Connected to local home/business power supply
- 2-6 month deployment cycle
Utility Grade Wind Farms
- Multiple large turbines up to 90m tall
- Turbine blades can be as large as 45m
- Located in clusters on farm land, mountain passes, offshore
- Connected to high voltage transmission lines
- Up to a five-year development cycle
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