KEY ACHIEVEMENTS

Made measurable contributions to Canada’s supply of clean energy

• Cardinal and Whitecourt Power’s annual average nitrogen oxide (NOx) and Carbon monoxide (CO) emissions are significantly below the level of emissions that are permitted

• At Whitecourt Power the total allowable CO emissions are 1,522,094.76 kg/yr, the actual amount of CO produced in 2014 was 397,980 kg (73.85% below the allowable limit); the total allowable limit of NOx emissions is 533,535.16 kg/yr, the actual amount of NOx produced is 235,000 kg (55.95% below our allowable annual limit)

   

  

   

  

   

• At Cardinal the total allowable limit is 20,920,314.06/yr, the actual amount of CO produced in 2014 was 123,110.79 (only 1% of the allowable limit used); the total allowable limit of NOx emissions is 1,194,682.71/yr, the actual NOx emissions produced 454,563.99 (only 38% of the allowable limit used)

   

  

   

  

   

 

• Whitecourt was again certified under the federal government’s EcoLogo™ program, which recognizes products and services that adhere to stringent environmental standards and practices
• Capstone generates enough clean energy to power the equivalent of 160,000 households
• The 9.5 MW Skyway 8 wind farm in Southgate, Ontario achieved commercial operations in August 2014
• The 24 MW Saint-Philémon wind farm, located near the town of Saint-Philémon, in the Chaudière-Appalaches region of Québec, was completed in January 2015
• Made substantial progress on the 25 MW Goulais wind farm in the Algoma District of Ontario
• Progressed another six wind development projects through the approvals process
• Every year, Whitecourt Power, a wood waste-fired electricity generating facility with an installed net capacity of 25 MW generates enough green electricity to power the equivalent of about 20,000 households
• An advanced flue gas filtration system eliminates 99% of the particulate emissions from Whitecourt Power

 

Met requirements under Ontario’s Endangered Species Act (ESA)

Capstone owns and operates 13 wind power facilities in Ontario and Nova Scotia, and has six wind farms under development. Throughout the planning, development and operation of our wind farms, we are required to meet extensive provincial regulations designed to protect the environment.

To meet the requirements of Ontario’s Endangered Species Act (ESA), during the development phase of our Skyway 8 wind farm Capstone entered into an agreement with The Couchiching Conservancy to mitigate the temporary and permanent habitat impacts associated with the construction of the project. Under the agreement, Skyway 8 secured and funded offset grassland habitat lands, owned by The Couchiching Conservancy.

Bristol Water continued to make environmental sustainability a top priority

Bristol Water remains a leader in environmental sustainability. Among many other initiatives, the company is working to reduce its carbon footprint by 50% by 2050 and encourages employees to bike to work to help with attaining this goal. Its Eco Schools program is a success — reaching more than 6,324 students in 29 schools last year.

Bristol Water has an ongoing partnership with the Avon Wildlife Trust to run innovative community programs, such as Trout and About and Spawn to be Wild. Trout and About encourages school children to learn more about their natural environment by caring for trout eggs and hatchlings. Spawn to be Wild brings baby eels into the classroom for children to nurture in an effort to help them understand the life cycle of eels.

The company is also actively engaged in promoting water resource management and conservation in Bristol and surrounding regions. In 2014, 31,000 water-saving items were distributed to help families reduce water use. As a result, customers saved a total of 700,000 litres of water each day.

The city of Bristol became the first UK city to win the title of European Green Capital. The European Green Capital Award recognizes a European city for its efforts to improve the environment, the economy, and the quality of life of its citizens. Bristol Water worked closely with the Bristol city council as the principal business supporter to secure this win. This year, Bristol Water will be stepping up its education and engagement programs in a bid to showcase the company’s environmental excellence. To begin with, the water efficiency program has been extended to work with new partners to further research and awareness. The company will also be behind one of the most visible and useful projects of the year – the installation of a pilot drinking fountain in the central square.

Corporate

At corporate we maintained our memberships with the Canadian Wind Energy Association, the Canadian Solar Energy Association, and the Ontario Water Power Association.

Our office is also located in RBC Centre, a LEED® New Construction gold office tower that incorporates green features including:

• Sustainable Enwave Deep Lake Cooling System
• Power conservation through indirect lighting/lighting sensors
• Non-toxic materials used in construction
• Diversion of construction waste to recycling process
• Storage facility for bicycles