AltaGas, GreenWing form wind partnership 
  
  
CALGARY (CP) - AltaGas Income Trust (TSX:ALA.UN) and GreenWing Energy Management Ltd. have formed a partnership to develop wind power projects in North America.

Initially, the GreenWing Energy Development limited partnership will own 10 proposed wind projects, representing the potential to develop a total capacity of approximately 800 megawatts of power.

"AltaGas' partnership with GreenWing fits our strategy to expand power generation capacity by adding renewable wind power to our portfolio," David Cornhill, chairman, president and CEO of AltaGas, said Tuesday.

"By working with GreenWing, AltaGas is well positioned to move into the development and operation of longterm renewable wind power generation in North America."

The limited partnership wants to develop a portfolio of wind power generation projects in western Canada and the western United States, with AltaGas having the option of financing up to 100 per cent of the debt and equity of the projects.

GreenWing, a Vancouver-based independent power producer, will manage the venture and take the lead development role. The company has already entered into agreements with landowners for more than 28,000 hectares and is assembling additional land packages in the project areas. It also plans to propose wind power projects in Manitoba, where the province wants to expand wind power output.

"Our power and project development expertise, combined with AltaGas' solid track record and financial strength, will make the combination a competitive force in North America," said Dan Allard, president of GreenWing.

AltaGas announced its initial investment in renewable generation in January, with the proposed Bear Mountain wind power project in northeast B.C. near Dawson Creek.

AltaGas is an energy services company, with natural gas gathering, processing and transmission operations. The trust also is in businesses extracting ethane and natural gas liquids, power generation, marketing of natural gas and natural gas liquids, as well as retail energy services to commercial, industrial and institutional customers across Canada.