CanWEA Recognizes UWIG With R.J. Templin Award

Reston, Va. – September 24, 2009 – The Utility Wind Integration Group (UWIG) is the 2009 recipient of the Canadian Wind Energy Association (CanWEA) R. J. Templin Award. The award was accepted by Charlie Smith, Executive Director, on behalf of UWIG, at the awards banquet on September 22 in conjunction with CanWEA’s Annual Conference held in Toronto.

First awarded in 1985, the award is presented to an individual or organization that has undertaken scientific, technical, or engineering work that significantly advances the wind energy industry in Canada. According to CanWEA, UWIG "has played a critical role in informing electricity system operators about the challenges and solutions associated with wind integration."

According to UWIG Executive Director Charlie Smith, the award recognizes a collaborative group effort on the part of Canadian and U.S. system operators, the U.S. Department of Energy and its laboratories, and other UWIG members and stakeholders: "We have strong member representation in Canada with system operators such as the Alberta Electric System Operator, Independent Electricity System Operator, and New Brunswick System Operator and utilities such as BC Hydro, British Columbia Transmission Corporation, Manitoba Hydro, Hydro Quebec, and Northwest Territories Power Corporation. We are proud to have them associated with us and working with us to address the technical issues related to integrating wind on power systems."