June 11, 2008

EarthFirst begins construction on Dokie I wind-power project

RICHARD GILBERT

staff writer

The giant turbines of windmills should soon be generating power for British Columbia residents.

EarthFirst Canada Inc., a Victoria-based company, announced last month that it has started construction on the Dokie I Project, which is a 144 MW wind farm in the Peace River area of northeast British Columbia.

The beginning of on-site construction activities marks a significant milestone for the company because the project should be the first-ever wind farm installation in the province.

The project is expected to supply 536 gigawatt hours of electricity per year, which is enough to power nearly 50,000 homes.

“We expect the Dokie project to be the first wind farm to be built in B.C. There are other wind farms currently under construction, such as Bear Mountain, but our construction schedule should allow us to complete the Dokie project first,” said Derren Newell, vice president of finance and chief financial officer for EarthFirst Canada Inc.

“On site construction activities include clearing the land, building all the roads and moving into foundation work. We are still working on road construction and clearing work.”

Site preparation work also included geo-technical work, detailed design, the tendering of various balance of plant contracts and ordering of long lead-time equipment.

“We are in the process of tendering the various parts of the project,” said Newell.

“Some of the contracts have been awarded and some are in the process of being awarded or are about to go out to tender.”

Abbotsford-based Eagle West Cranes Inc. and its subsidiary Stampede Crane and Rigging Inc. of Calgary, have been awarded the Dokie Wind Project turbine installation contract.

The project, which will consist of 48 Vestas V90 wind turbines, is located near Chetwynd and will be done in two phases.

“There are eight units going up at the back end of this year and the next 40 will be installed next year,” said Gerry Wiebe, vice president of sales and business development with Eagle West Cranes.

“At this point, we will use rough grade cranes, which are small and agile and all terrain cranes, which are not as mobile but have a high capacity. We will also use heavy cranes, which are the heavy lifters. These cranes are necessary for putting the towers up, putting up the generators and putting the blades up.”

The Dokie project is the first installation of wind towers by Eagle West in B.C., but Stampede has done hundreds of installations in Alberta.

“We are bringing the two companies together, which includes their assets and people, to do this project,” said Wiebe. “We have a lot of cranes and staff in B.C. and Alberta. We will bring what is required, when it is required to the project site.”

Stampede has experience with plaing wind turbines on wind farms throughout the Prairies, and the Dokie Wind Project now allows for the company’s expansion into B.C.

“The wind industry offers tremendous potential for our companies in the future and we are excited about the opportunities,” said Bob Fairbank, COO of Eagle West.

“We are also proud to be a part of this new generation of clean, renewable energy production.”

The general contractor is Canadian Projects Limited of Calgary.

Stampede has done hundreds of wind tower installations in Alberta. However, the Dokie wind project is the first installation of wind towers by Eagle West in B.C..

“We are bringing the two companies together, which includes their assets and people, to do this project,” said Wiebe.

“We have a lot of cranes and staff in B.C. and Alberta. We will bring what is required, when it is required to the project site.”

Stampede has experience with placing wind turbines on wind farms throughout the prairie provinces.

The Dokie Wind Project now allows for Eagle West Cranes’ expansion into the B.C. market

“The wind industry offers tremendous potential for our companies in the future and we are excited about the opportunities,” said Bob Fairbank, COO of Eagle West.

“We are also proud to be a part of this new generation of clean, renewable energy production.”

The general contractor for the Dokie Wind Project is Canadian Projects Limited of Calgary.

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