Suncor Energy is significantly expanding its position in Canadian wind power, announcing on Monday it will go ahead with a the first phase of a major new wind farm in Southern Alberta.

The project, called Forty Mile, is located on approximately 50,000 acres of private land, south and east of the town of Bow Island, the company says.

The first $300-million phase will have 200 MW of generating capacity, and is expected to be in commercial service in December 2021.

Suncor and its partners have approximately 100 MW of existing wind power generating capacity in Alberta, Saskatchewan and Ontario.

Suncor says that once built, the first phase of Forty Mile will consist of 45 4.5 MW wind turbines, a meteorological tower, an electrical collection system, turbine access roads, and temporary construction facilities, delivering renewable electricity to the gird via the Granlea substation, which will connect to the existing 240-kiloVolt transmission line within the project area.

“This unique investment approach in renewable energy is expected to generate double-digit, sustainable economic returns through power generation and retaining the generated carbon credits for utilization in the core business,” the company said.

“This project is part of Suncor’s sustainability strategy, making meaningful progress toward the greenhouse gas intensity reduction target of 30 percent by 2030.”

Forty Mile is also planned with a second 200-MW phase which is targeted for completion in December 2022.