[ APPrO Home
Page | publications | organizations | education
| businesses | conferences | definitions
| Internet links ]
For
immediate
release: November 18, 2009
Canadian Sustainable Energy Pioneers
Honored With First Ever Probyn Prize
Awarded at Association of Power
Producers of Ontario Conference
(Toronto,
Canada) November 18, 2009 — Canada is closer to the goal of
building a sustainable energy system thanks to the work of two
remarkable men: John and Ross Keating. The brothers were honored by the
national power industry last night with the Probyn Prize, a new award
designed to highlight major accomplishments in the field of
environmental technology and business. As founders of Canadian Hydro
Developers (CHD), an Alberta-based public company, the Keatings have
been outstanding green power pioneers for more than 20 years.
“We are
delighted that the first recipients of the Probyn Prize are such a
deserving duo of entrepreneurs,” said Dave Butters, President of the
Association of Power Producers of Ontario (APPrO). “John and Ross
Keating personify the principles of the Probyn Prize and their success
in environmental energy is an inspiration to everyone.” The Prize was
presented at APPrO's annual conference and trade show which is attended
by more than 1,000 members of Canada’s energy and sustainable
development industry.
Internationally
known Canadian sculptor Colin Gibson was commissioned by The Probyn
GroupTM to create the bronze sculpture which serves as APPrO's award
and embodies its themes. Mr. Butters said, "The original work of
art evokes the creative drive and imagination which make economic and
environmental achievements like those of Stephen Probyn and the Keating
brothers possible."
The Probyn Prize
was established by APPrO to recognize "significant advances and
achievements in financial markets, public policy or science and
technology which promote action on climate change and sustainable
development.” It commemorates the leadership of the late Stephen
Probyn, who was one of the originators of Canada’s green energy
industry, a leading financier in the sector, and one of the world’s
foremost authorities on renewable energy development.
The company
founded and led by the Keatings has grown from a single three-megawatt
plant on the Belly River in southern Alberta to become one of Canada’s
foremost developers of renewable energy. CHD has developed 21
hydroelectric, wind power and biomass facilities in four provinces,
with net generating capacity of 694 megawatts of green power. CHD
recently completed the first underwater transmission line of its type,
as part of the Wolfe Island EcoPower® Centre in Ontario. It was the
first company to achieve approval by the Ontario Energy Board for a
privately-owned, non-utility transmission line of its scale. As a
financial innovator as well, CHD has used unique debt financing to
successfully grow its business. CHD was recently acquired by TransAlta
Corporation.
“The Keatings
demonstrate that Canadians are global leaders in the drive to find
positive solutions to the major challenges of our time, and they are an
example to the world,” Mr. Butters said.
APPrO is a
non-profit organization representing more than 100 companies involved
in the generation of electricity in Ontario, including generators,
suppliers of services, equipment and consulting services. APPrO members
produce power from nuclear, hydro, fossil, wind, biomass and other
energy sources. APPrO's members currently produce over 95% of the
electricity generated in Ontario.
-30-
For photos of
the Probyn Prize, see the following web pages:
http://www.appro.org/Probyn/Probyn_Prize/2009/Probyn_Prize_-_Backgrounder_on_the_artwork.pdf
For more
information on the winners of this year's Probyn Prize,
see the following link:
http://www.appro.org/Probyn/Probyn_Prize/2009/Probyn_Prize_-_Backgrounder_on_2009_winner.html
For more
information on why the Prize was created and what it honors, see the
following link:
Why
the Prize was created and what it honors
For background
on the sculptor, Colin Gibson, see the following web
page:
http://www.appro.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=75&Itemid=112
For further
information on Stephen Probyn and the origins of Probyn
Prize,
see:
http://www.appro.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=76&Itemid=113
http://www.appro.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=61&Itemid=96
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stephen_Probyn
For more
information on APPrO, see www.appro.org
For further
information contact:
David Butters,
President or Jake Brooks, Executive Director
Association of
Power Producers of Ontario (APPrO)
25 Adelaide St.
E., Suite 1602, Toronto ON M5C 3A1
tel: (416)
322-6549 or (647) 444-6549
fax: (416)
481-5785
e-mail: david.butters@appro.org
website: http://www.appro.org
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Association of
Power Producers of Ontario (APPrO)
PO Box 1084,
Stn. F, Toronto, Ont. M4Y 2T7
tel.:
416-322-6549 fax 416-481-5785
e-mail:
appro@appro.org website: http://www.appro.org
[ APPrO Home
Page | publications
| organizations | education | businesses
| conferences | definitions | Internet
links ]