The NaiKun Wind Energy Group has been granted a provincial Environmental Assessment Certificate for its 396MW offshore wind energy project.

"This is an important day for NaiKun Wind and for British Columbia’s
North Coast communities," said Paul Taylor, NaiKun Wind’s president and
CEO. "The NaiKun Wind project will play an important role in helping
the province reach its goal of becoming electricity self-sufficient by
2016 while also providing major economic benefits to B.C.’s North Coast
communities."

NaiKun Wind is one of a handful of projects in BC
Hydro’s Clean Power Call to have been granted a provincial
Environmental Assessment Certificate. The British Columbia
Environmental Assessment Office (EAO) is responsible
for these decisions.

The certification marks the culmination of over six years of
environmental studies, analysis and community consultation. As part of
the process, NaiKun Wind has made numerous commitments that it claims
are carefully designed to maximize project benefits and minimize the
risk of negative effects on the environment.

NaiKun says the wind farm will generate enough energy to provide electricity to 130,000 B.C. homes and play a significant role in combating climate change. The project will also create an estimated 200 jobs during construction and 50 permanent jobs for maintenance and operations.