The government will provide a financial incentive for the installation of 1,000 megawatts of new wind generating capacity over the next five years, on top of the 200 megawatts installed in the past decade.

The added capacity would be enough to power 250,000 homes.

Under the initiative, the broad outlines of which were announced in the federal budget in December, producers would receive 0.8 to 1.2 Canadian cents for every kilowatt hour generated during the first 10 years of operation.

The program is part of the government's C$1.5 billion commitment since 2000 to address climate change. Wind-generated power is considered a green source of electricity because of its low environmental impact.

($1=$1.53 Canadian)