Toronto-based AIM PowerGen Corp. has just completed building the 99-megawatt Erie Shores project near Port Burwell and wants to build a 150-megawatt wind farm in the Erieau-Blenheim area.

Chief executive Mike Crawley said his company has lined up options on several thousand acres of land.

"We have been testing the winds down there and it shows promise," said Crawley.

The Erieau project would have 75 to 100 turbines, depending on capacity, compared to the 66 turbines now operating in Erie Shores.

Crawley's company is eyeing the potential of several other sites in the Chatham-Kent and Essex County areas.

The Ontario government has issued two rounds of proposals for wind farm projects that would be hooked into the provincial grid in a bid to boost renewable energy.

Whether or not the Erieau project goes ahead will depend on provincial approval in a third round of requests for proposals that will likely be issued next year.

This week, AIM PowerGen Corp. announced it had been bought by British-based Renewable Energy Generation Ltd. for $29.1 million.

The British company will give AIM PowerGen better access to investment, especially in European markets, said Crawley.

"This allows us to spend more time moving and accelerating our projects and less time chasing capital," he said.

AIM will continue to operate independently and Crawley will continue as chief executive.

Robert Hornung of the Canadian Wind Energy Association said the British buyout of AIM PowerGen shows strength in the industry.

"It's indicative of the growing international interest in Canada's wind energy deal now that it is taking off," he said.

The Erieau project is just part of a wave of wind farm proposals that will soon make Ontario the leading province in wind power technology.

EPCOR has completed a 40-megawatt project near Goderich that will eventually be expanded to 200 megawatts. A similar-sized project has been proposed by Enbridge for the Kincardine area.

Another wind farm near Shelburne will eventually expand to 200 megawatts and a 189-megawatt project has been approved for the Sault Ste. Marie area.