A Pioneer in Wind Energy

A History of Environmental Leadership

TransAlta's wind business began in 1996 with the founding of VisionQuest Windelectric, an early developer of wind power on a commercial scale. In 2000, TransAlta invested $5 million in the Calgary-based company - part of a $100 million fund we had earmarked for investments in renewable energy, greenhouse gas offset projects, as well as in research and development of clean coal technology. In 2002, TransAlta purchased a 100 per cent interest in the company.

We now operate over 1,000 megawatts (MW) of wind power in Alberta, Ontario, Quebec and New Brunswick. 

Wind Milestones

• 1997 - First new power generation on the Alberta electric grid with two-600 kilowatt (kW) turbines.
• 1998 - Added two more 600 kW turbines.
• 2000 - Installed 16 additional 660 kW turbines.
• 2001 - Launched Ride the Wind!™, using 12 additional 660 kW turbines to power Calgary's mass transit "C-Train" and installed 46 more 660 kW turbines.
• 2002 - Purchased 100 per cent interest in VisionQuest and installed two 660 kW exploratory turbines.
• 2003 - Constructed Canada’s single largest wind facility at the time, 75 MW at McBride Lake, making TransAlta one of Canada’s largest wind power producers.
• 2004 - Commissioned the 68 MW Summerview Wind Facility in southern Alberta using 38, 1.8 MW wind turbines
• 2007 - Secured the 75 MW Kent Hills Wind Facility contract in New Brunswick, then amended the contract to add 21 MW for a total capacity of 96 MW.
• 2008 - Announced 66 MW Blue Trail Wind Facility project in southern Alberta and announced a 66 MW expansion to the Summerview Wind Facility
• 2008 - Kent Hills Wind Facility began commercial operation supplying up to 96 MW of power. This was the first wind-generated power delivered commercially in New Brunswick.
• 2009 - Added eight new wind power facilities and 619 MW to our wind facility portfolio through the purchase of Canadian Hydro Developers.
• 2010 - Secured a contract in New Brunswick for 54 MW, which was used to build an expansion to the Kent Hills wind facility. Since December 2010, we have operated 150 MW of installed capacity at Kent Hills. 
• 2010 - Completed construction and achieved commercial operation at the 69 MW Ardenville Wind Facility in southern Alberta. 
• 2011 - As of January, our generation portfolio includes 1,162 MW of installed wind capacity in four provinces.

In the coming years, TransAlta plans to continue to grow our wind portfolio through development and acquisition.