Trillium Power And First Nations Technical Institute Establish Training Partnership

PRLog (Press Release) – Jun 06, 2008 – Toronto, Ontario – Trillium Power Wind Corporation (Trillium Power) announced today that it has completed a bilateral agreement with First Nations Technical Institute (FNTI) that will offer a wide range of training and educational opportunities to First Nations members.

Trillium Power and FNTI will work together with St.Lawrence College to train First Nations students in developing and maintaining offshore and onshore wind power facilities and help build Canada’s emerging renewable energy sector.

Once these joint programs are in place, FNTI will be the first and only indigenous educational institution in the world to offer a comprehensive wind-power training program.

“Today’s announcement further demonstrates our commitment to reach out to all communities to share the enormous benefits of offshore wind in the Great Lakes,” said Trillium Power president and CEO John Kourtoff. Trillium Power is developing the proposed ‘Trillium Power Wind 1’ offshore wind-power facility southeast of Prince Edward County in Lake Ontario.

“We would like to thank Agriculture and Rural Affairs Minister Leona Dombrowsky, Aboriginal Affairs Minister Michael Bryant, Training, Colleges and Universities Minister John Milloy and the McGuinty government for their support in creating this unique program, and we look forward to their support in building upon this foundation.”

Karihwakeron Tim Thompson, president of First Nations Technical Institute, stated: “We were approached by Trillium Power to become a founding partner of this unique training and placement program. We look forward to creating opportunities for First Nations people to support offshore wind development and being involved at the very beginning of a new era of ‘green-collar’ manufacturing and service enterprises. Trillium Power has proven to be a committed partner in working with First Nations people and including us in their vision for sustainable economic development solutions in Ontario.”

Mr. Kourtoff added: “First Nations are integral partners in our renewable energy future, and they have a deep commitment to protecting our natural resources. We are honoured to have the opportunity to work together with this community and to include them in the development of our project. Ontarians realize that offshore winds are far more powerful and consistent than onshore winds (due to their inherent characteristics), and therefore better able to meet the energy demands of families and businesses. In addition, offshore wind is highly cost-effective when compared to similar-sized onshore wind projects, and more so when compared to non-renewable energy projects, such as natural gas, on a lifecycle basis.”

“Trillium Power Wind 1 is an important green-collar enterprise that can assist in shifting Ontario’s highly-skilled workforce to well-paying, sustainable, ‘green tech’ manufacturing and services jobs,” he added. “Ontario has the potential to be the world’s leading green-technology economy, and we’re thrilled that First Nations people will share in all the benefits this sustainable future holds.”