Ontario welcomed the official opening of what it calls the world’s largest solar photovoltaic (PV) farm, as well as milestones for two new wind projects in South-West Ontario.

The province says it has attracted over $1 billion in private sector investment and created more than 1400 construction jobs through three renewable energy projects that will produce enough electricity to power about 83,000 homes each year.

These projects will add almost 300 MW of renewable energy capacity to the more than 8000 MW of new cleaner power that has been created since 2003, boasts the government.

The three renewable energy projects it recently celebrated include:

• The 80 MW Sarnia Solar Project. It represents about $400 million of investment and enough electricity each year to power more than 12,000 homes (about 40% of homes in the City of Sarnia). Its construction created about 800 jobs.

• The 50 MW Gosfield Wind Farm in Kingsville. It represents enough electricity each year to power about 16,000 homes. Its construction created about 300 jobs.

• The 166 MW Comber Wind Project in Lakeshore. Set to come online next fall, Comber is expected to produce enough electricity each year to power 55,000 homes.

The Gosfield and Comber Wind projects represent about $650 million of private sector investment, and enough electricity each year to meet the needs of over 40% of Essex County homes.

Each of these projects has a 20-year Power Purchase Agreement with the Ontario Power Authority (OPA).