More clean energy on the way, province announces

Three Yarmouth-area municipal units are part of solar electricity pilot program

Yarmouth Mayor Pam Mood chats with Yarmouth MLA and Education Minister Zach Churchill and Andrew MacKenzie, T & D supervisor with Nova Scotia Power for Yarmouth, Barrington and Shelburne. The three were at the Yarmouth fire hall Nov. 10 for Churchill’s announcement of a provincial program for solar electricity.

More solar panels will be popping up across southwestern Nova Scotia through the Solar Electricity for Community Buildings Pilot Program announced by Education and Early Childhood Minister Zach Churchill on behalf of Energy Minister Geoff MacLellan.

The Town of Yarmouth has been approved to generate up to 50 kilowatts of solar electricity. The Municipality of Yarmouth and the Municipality of Argyle received approvals of 100 kilowatts and 75 kilowatts, respectively.

The groups will sell their solargenerated electricity back to their utility through a 20-year power purchase agreement.

“As we move to a cleaner energy future, we all have an important part to play,” Churchill said. “This is about more community groups in Yarmouth and Argyle participating in clean electricity generation, advancing the solar industry and learning about how solar fits into our energy mix.”

Churchill made the announcement Nov. 10 at the fire hall in Yarmouth, where Mayor Pam Mood was among those welcoming the initiative.

“The Town of Yarmouth knows that the best results come when we collaborate, as municipalities,” Mayor Mood said. “This project was identified as a priority for council and we are looking forward to the next steps in this exciting project. Yarmouth is committed to sustainability and this project is about supporting a sustainable and green future.”

A total of 18 successful applications were chosen across the province. All applications were overseen by Clean Foundation, the independent procurement administrator. The impact to ratepayers is capped at 0.1 per cent, which is already built into the rate stability plan, the government says.

The program is for Mi’kmaw communities, registered nonprofit or charitable organizations, municipalities or organizations owned by municipalities, universities or community colleges in Nova Scotia.

The program will be offered for two more years. To see a complete list of all successful applicants, and to learn more about the program, visit novascotia.ca/ solar.

Zach Churchill