RIEBSL, RIEGÎM and EDF EN Canada Announce the Commissioning of the Nicolas-Riou Wind Project

MONTREAL–(BUSINESS WIRE)–EDF
EN Canada Inc., a subsidiary of EDF Energies Nouvelles, Régie
intermunicipale de l’énergie du Bas-Saint-Laurent (RIEBSL), and Régie
intermunicipale de l'énergie Gaspésie-Îles-de-la-Madeleine (RIEGÎM),
are pleased to announce the commissioning of the Nicolas-Riou
wind project. This 224.25 megawatt (MW) project comprises 65
turbines of 3.45 MW supplied by Vestas. Nicolas-Riou is 50-percent owned
by EDF EN Canada, 33-percent by RIEBSL and 17-percent by RIEGÎM.

Located in the Bas-Saint-Laurent region, on the private and public lands
of TNO Boisbouscache and the municipalities of Sainte-Françoise,
Saint-Mathieu-de-Rioux, Saint-Médard (RCM Basques) and
Saint-Eugene-de-Ladrière (RCM of Rimouski-Neigette) Nicolas-Riou Wind
Project represents an investment of more than CAD $500 million.
Construction commenced in June 2016 employing over 400 workers during
its peak.

In addition to the profits distributed to the municipal shareholders, an
annual contribution of over CAD $1.1 million will be provided to the
Bas-Saint-Laurent and Gaspésie regions, particularly to the Basques and
Rimouski-Neigette RCMs throughout the 25-year contract with Hydro-Québec.

“The Nicolas-Riou Wind Project mobilized all regional county
municipalities (RCM) in Bas-Saint-Laurent and
Gaspésie–Îles-de-la-Madeleine, as well as the Maliseet of Viger First
Nation, who invested together with their respective municipalities and
EDF EN Canada for the capital expenditures. This exceptional partnership
is coupled with a desire to boost regional economic development by
capitalizing on the local wind resource,” said Cory Basil, Vice
President, Development for EDF EN Canada. “We are very excited to have
formed a strong partnership with RIEBSL and RIEGÎM. This project is the
result of a partnership that pairs the experience and expertise of EDF
EN Canada with the understanding of local expectations brought by our
public partners.”

According to Michel Lagacé, president of RIEBSL, “Pride is the word that
sums up the last nine years of the local authority’s commitment to build
Canada’s largest equally owned community project. Nicolas-Riou
represents a great public-private achievement resulted from the addition
of the partners’ skills. Thank you to the development and construction
teams of EDF EN Canada for the hard work! We look forward to many years
of continued collaboration and success.”

Simon Deschênes, president of RIEGÎM, said, “The RCMs of Gaspésie are
very pleased with the commissioning of the Nicolas-Riou Community Wind
Project, and we want to highlight the excellent collaboration of all our
partners who made possible this ambitious and very stunning project.”

On December 22, 2017, a $340 million, non-recourse, full term project
financing was arranged and fully underwritten by National Bank Financial
Markets, as co-lead arranger and sole book runner, and Sun Life
Assurance Company of Canada, as co-lead arranger.

Nicolas-Riou is one of eight wind projects awarded to EDF EN Canada
through Hydro-Québec Distribution’s call for tenders in 2008, 2010 and
2013. It also represents the fifth project held in partnership with one
or more RCM; the other four being La
Mitis (24.6 MW), Le
Granit (24.6 MW), Lac
Alfred (300 MW) and Rivière-du-Moulin
(350 MW). Since 2008, EDF EN Canada has placed in service 1,600 MW of
wind and solar projects in Canada.

ABOUT EDF EN CANADA INC.:

EDF EN Canada, a subsidiary of EDF Energies Nouvelles, is a market
leader in renewable energy, with more than 1,600 MW of wind and solar
power facilities in service or under development. Headquartered in
Toronto and Montreal, EDF EN Canada employs an integrated approach to
project development covering all aspects from conception to
commissioning through to generation and long-term operations. The
subsidiary offers financial strength, technological innovation and an
emphasis on service. EDF EN Canada draws on the market expertise of EDF
Renewable Energy, EDF Energies Nouvelles’ U.S. subsidiary. EDF Energies
Nouvelles is 100% owned by the EDF Group. www.edf-energies-nouvelles.com
www.edf-en.ca

ABOUT RÉGIE INTERMUNICIPALE DE L’ÉNERGIE
GASPÉSIE–ÎLES-DE-LA-MADELEINE (RIEGÎM):

Established in 2009, the Régie intermunicipale de l’Énergie
Gaspésie–Îles-de-la-Madeleine is comprised of the five Regional County
Municipalities (RCM) of this administrative region and the
Îles-de-la-Madeleine conglomeration.

ABOUT RÉGIE INTERMUNICIPALE DE L’ÉNERGIE DU BAS-SAINT-LAURENT
(RIEBSL):

Régie intermunicipale de l’énergie du Bas-Saint-Laurent (RIEBSL),
formerly named Énergie Éolienne Bas-Saint-Laurent, was created in June
2014 in relations with Hydro-Québec’s 2013 call for tenders (A/O
2013-01) by the eight Regional County Municipalities (RCM) of the
Bas-Saint-Laurent region and the Viger Maliseet First Nation. In July
2014, the two companies joined to create the Alliance Éolienne de l’Est
to jointly invest, under 50 percent partnerships, in wind projects in
both regions, with private companies.

Contacts

EDF EN Canada Inc.
Fabiola Oribe
514-397-9997 ext. 4146
[email protected]
or
Sandi
Briner
+1 858-521-3525
[email protected]