As of April 1st, Newfoundland and Labrador's Churchill Falls hydroelectric facility has begun selling a portion of its generating capacity to the United States in what Premier Danny Williams called a "very important deal and a proud moment".

The 5 year agreement with Hydro Quebec will net NL up to $80 million per year.

On Wednesday, [Nalcor Energy, NL's energy company] began selling 130 megawatts of power to Nova Scotia's Emera Energy Inc., which is selling it to New York, Williams said.

The province is able to sell 250 megawatts of energy to the North American grid, the premier said. That's enough to power 160,000 homes.

To many NL residents, this deal is also seen as a symbolic victory over the contentious energy reseller deal made in 1969 between NL's Churchill Falls/Labrador Corp. and Hydro-Quebec. A good way to celebrate NL's diamond anniversary with Canada, I say.

This announcement comes on the heels of news that New Brunswick is intent on exporting energy to Maine.

Fun fact: Churchill Falls is world's second largest underground power station, capable of outputting almost 5,500 megawatts. That's 1% of the world's total hydroelectric power generation.