VANCOUVER, Feb. 14 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ - Western Wind Energy Corporation ('Western Wind Energy') is pleased to announce that it has secured a new, 100 MW wind energy and solar site located near Barstow, California. This site is located on 2,400 acres and is in an area with proven, high-energy wind speeds. Previous testing indicates a mean average annual wind speed in excess of 9 meters per second or over 20 miles per hour, capable of generating net operating capacity factors in excess of 40 percent. Unlike a number of wind energy developments in the region, this property is not located in a critical habitat area for the Desert Tortoise and therefore, Western Wind Energy anticipates a normal permitting process in achieving production. The Barstow Project is the first announcement of many new acquisitions that Western Wind Energy is currently developing as part of the previously announced 'California Initiative.' As a result of California's large appetite for renewable energy and the extreme scarcity of sites to satisfy this demand, Western Wind Energy is uniquely positioned to capitalize on this imbalance. Jeff Ciachurski, CEO states 'there was tremendous competition from the largest players in the investment banking and energy industries to acquire this exact piece of property. Western Wind's access to proprietary information dating back to the 1970s allowed Western Wind to make and complete the opportunity, literally, a few weeks before our competition. We are extremely proud of this accomplishment.'

The Barstow Wind Resource Area is the largest wind resource opportunity in California outside of Palm Springs (San Gorgonio Pass) and Tehachapi. Barstow is also the home of over 400 MWs of solar thermal generating facilities making our site a perfect candidate for the dual purpose of the solar/wind generation profile. Western Wind Energy is currently conducting environmental studies to complete the permitting process. Western Wind Energy is North America's largest producer of pure wind energy. Western Wind Energy currently produces 34.5 MW of clean renewable electrical energy from over 500 wind turbine generators located in Tehachapi (Windridge) and San Gorgonio Pass (Palm Springs), California with annualized energy output is approximately 75 billion watt hours per year. Western Wind Energy also has over 155 MW of expansion power sales agreements with the associated projects in the late stages of development. In addition, Western Wind Energy has a credible pipeline of over 1,300 MW of site locations in the State of California. During the past two years, Western Wind Energy has executed or acquired over $1 billion of power sales agreements totaling 155 megawatts from the sale of wind energy electrical generation to two separate utilities. Western Wind Energy was the first to execute a 'wind' PPA in the State of Arizona, and in California, is expanding from management's 27-year continuous operating history in the Tehachapi Pass. Western Wind Energy is in the business of acquiring exceptional land sites, capital and technology for the production of electricity from wind energy. Western Wind Energy conducts its operations through its wholly owned subsidiaries in Arizona and California. Management of Western Wind Energy includes individuals involved in the operations and ownership of utility scale wind energy facilities in California since 1981.

    ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS

    'SIGNED'

    Jeffrey J. Ciachurski
    Chief Executive Officer


    The TSX Venture Exchange has not reviewed and does not accept
    responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release.

Certain statements included herein are 'forward-looking statements' as defined by the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Management cautions that forward-looking statements are not guarantees and that actual results could differ materially from those expressed or implied in the forward-looking statement. Important factors that could cause the actual results of operations or financial condition of the Company to differ include, but are not necessarily limited to, the risks and uncertainties discussed in documents filed by the Company with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

CONTACT: Western Wind Energy Corp., 632 Foster Avenue, Coquitlam, BC, V3J 2L7, Telephone: (604) 839-4192, Facsimile: (604) 939-1292, www.westernwindenergy.com

SOURCE Western Wind Energy