More clean energy coming to Southwest Nova Scotia

An announcement concerning solar energy was made in Yarmouth on Monday morning.

Minister of Education and Early Childhood Development Zach Churchill, on behalf of Energy and Mines Minister Derek Mombourquette, announced that two organizations in southwest Nova Scotia have been approved for the Solar Electricity for Community Buildings Program.

“This program enhances Nova Scotia’s reputation as a leader in reducing emissions by ensuring local groups have the opportunity to benefit from having more renewable energy,” said Churchill. “Our province has made a significant investment to address climate change and Nova Scotians should be proud of the results they have achieved.”

Yarmouth has been approved to install 30 kilowatts of solar electricity panels on its public works building, while the Shelburne Campus of the Nova Scotia Community College has been approved for 75 kilowatts.

“The Town of Yarmouth is continually committed to exploring renewable energy opportunities and today we take another step forward,” said Yarmouth Mayor Pam Mood. “This program allows us to generate clean electricity and sell the energy to Nova Scotia Power through a 20-year power purchase agreement.”

This year, a total of 27 applications were selected from across the province. If all projects are completed, Nova Scotia will add 1,617 kilowatts of renewable electricity to the grid. That is more than double last year’s total.

All applications were overseen by Clean Foundation, the independent procurement administrator.

The average selling price this year for electricity generated through these projects is 25.4 cents per kilowatt hour. The impact to ratepayers is capped at 0.1 per cent, which is already built into the province’s rate stability plan.

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

The program will be offered for one more year. For more information on the program, visit www.novascotia.ca/solar .

Meanwhile, on Oct. 15 it was announced that Mi’Kmaw communities are also adding more clean, renewable solar energy to the electricity grid. Eleven Mi’kmaw organizations have been approved for the Solar Electricity for Community Buildings Program.

Working in partnership with Beaubassin Mi’kmaq Wind Management, the approved projects in this region include:

• Bear River First Nation, Annapolis and Digby counties: 48 kilowatts

• Acadia First Nation, Yarmouth County: 72 kilowatts