Wind power plans to require more N.B. content

The province wants New Brunswick residents and companies to play a bigger role in developing wind energy.

All future contracts to provide wind power will have to have at least 10 per cent New Brunswick content, the Liberal government announced Thursday.

"Obviously, price will continue to be a factor," Business Minister Greg Byrne said Thursday.

"It's probably weighted around 80 per cent. The New Brunswickcontent would be 10 per cent. Obviously we would be looking to see the maximum benefits for N.B. content"

New Brunswick content can include labour, materials or research.

The first two wind energy contracts signed by NB Power are with companies from outside the province. They don't have any New Brunswick content.