1 June 2005
CP Brings Wind Power to
the Prairies
Harnessing wind power is fast
becoming a popular way for Canadian power generation companies to provide environmentally friendly
power solutions. Canadian Pacific Logistics Solutions (CPLS) is playing its part to feed that demand
for wind power through a multi-million dollar transportation deal recently signed with
Vestas Canadian Wind Technology.
Vestas, a leading provider of wind turbines in North America, is creating an 84-structure
wind farm at Hak, Saskatchewan. To build the wind farm, the company must bring the
European-manufactured equipment needed for the project to the prairies. That is where
CPLS and Canadian Pacific Railway come into play.
Over the next six months, CPLS will facilitate the move of seven trains, each filled with dozens of
blades and generators, called nacelles, from the Port of Houston to Hak, Saskatchewan. Traveling over
rail, each 67-car train will carry the equipment to build 12 wind turbines.
CPLS Business Development Manager, David Walker says moving the wind turbine equipment required
careful planning. "If you've ever seen a wind turbine, you can appreciate the magnitude of the
task we are faced with - each blade alone is 125 feet long."
Vestas Transport Co-ordinator, Claus Justesen is pleased with the solutions offered by
CPLS. "The service will enable Vestas to service its customers in Canada in a timely and cost
efficient manner as well as eliminate numerous obstructions to roadway traffic."
The first train departed the Port of Houston on May 23rd, en route to the Minneapolis/St. Paul CPR
interchange. It then traveled northwest, entered Canada at Noyes/Emerson and continued through
southern Manitoba before it entered Saskatchewan. The train is scheduled to arrive at Hak,
Saskatchewan on Thursday June 2nd.
The wind turbine equipment will be combined with Saskatoon-manufactured towers and
erected to create an 84-structure wind farm at Rush Lake, Saskatchewan. Six other trains
will follow in three-week intervals until all the equipment has arrived at its
destination.
About Vestas
Vestas is the world leader in wind technology and a driving force in the development of the wind
power industry. Vestas' core business comprises the development, manufacture, sale, marketing and
maintenance of wind power systems.
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