Involving the community
Jamie Maclean of Big Moon Power Canada spoke to Scott’s Bay community members at the town hall July 3. The tidal power company has consulted with the community extensively since beginning to test its Kinetic Keel prototype in the Minas Passage in 2016 and has earned its support.
The rope loosens and contracts during high and low tides, meaning the two-way energy production is constantly producing energy. The system has also, so far,
proven to have no negative impacts on the ocean environment.
The Huntleys were first approached by BMP in August 2017 and say they thought hard about this new power system.
“We put it to the community before we agreed to anything – that was important
to us,” said Joel Huntley.
The couple also spoke with the fishermen, Scott’s Bay residents and Mi’kmaq community members who’d consulted with the company to check for any concerns, and found none – yet another factor they say sets this project apart from Halcyon’s 2014 turbine proposal.
“Halcyon treated our community like we were dumb, rural hicks,” said Ann Huntley, with her husband adding, “it was like they came here and told us what they were going to do without asking anyone.”
At the meeting, Maclean and Fitzharris also said they will continue consulting with all local stakeholders throughout each phase of the project, as they did with fishermen July 2 while they were on the water conducting a low tide survey.
“We’ve insisted the fishing, First Nations and academia communities are all included in each step. We think the result of that was very positive, and also demonstrated our willingness to work with and include everyone,” said Maclean.
The company started its second testing phase July 4, during which they dropped the keel’s gravity base into the water, and aims to connect the latest keel system to this in about two weeks.
This second phase also includes an upgrade to the local power grid, so it can begin harnessing energy created by the keel. BMP, which has a power-purchasing agreement in place with Nova Scotia Power, will foot the bill for the new threephase system, meaning residents will not see a change in their power costs.
Maclean said as the test phases continue and the final project is doled out within the next five years, BMP’S mindset will remain local.
“If it can be built here, if it can be employed here, if it can be spent here, it’s going to be spent here,” he said.
And the community has not only voiced its excitement for this renewable energy source, but also for other opportunities it hopes this renews as well.
“Maybe in a few years there will actually be people moving here to work, instead of going other places,” said Joel Huntley.