Wind Power News: Nova Scotia
These news and opinion items are gathered by National Wind Watch to help keep readers informed about developments related to industrial wind energy. They are the products of the organizations or individuals noted and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of National Wind Watch.
Nova Scotia warned of wind power glut
Nova Scotia’s consumer advocates say there could soon be too much wind power in the province, which may lead to higher power rates. The warning comes as a bidding war gets underway to supply more wind power to meet renewable energy targets. The provincial government says 25 per cent of electricity must come from these sources by 2015. Existing wind farms and new players are responding to a request for proposals to supply an extra 300 gigawatt hours to the . . .
Sprott Power wind farm under fire
AMHERST – It’s only in the planning stages, but a proposed wind farm on the east side of the Trans-Canada Highway already has people asking questions about noise. Sprott Power announced last month plans to expand its Amherst wind project and is looking at land across the highway from the existing $61-million development that includes 15 turbines and will generate 31.5 megawatts of electricity, enough to power 10,000 homes. That has some Amherst homeowners, living along the marsh, concerned. “I . . .
Wind farm developer plans to double operation’s size
PICTOU – A local wind farm developer is hoping to successfully win another contract from Nova Scotia Power that would double the size of his farm. Reuben Burge, head of RMSEnergy Dalhousie Mountain, made a presentation to county council Monday to inform it about his plans to expand operations into both Pictou and Colchester counties. RMSEnergy currently operates 34 turbines, each rated for a nameplate capacity of 1.5 megawatts at its wind farm on Mount Thom. They give out a total . . .
Wind turbine symbolic for municipality
The Municipality of the District of Digby has voted to purchase a 5 kW wind turbine and install it at their wastewater treatment facility in Smith’s Cove. The municipality will spend $42,000 plus HST for the small turbine installed on a 120′ tower near the pump shed. Council hopes the turbine will mitigate the electrical costs at the treatment facility. With 22 kmh winds, the turbine could generate 12-15,000 kWh per year-not enough to run the plant-but enough to reduce . . .
Chester municipal wind farm likely to be largest in province
CHESTER – The wind energy project undertaken by the Chester municipality is expected to generate more than $660,000 of direct revenue for the municipality, says the warden. On December 16 the Minas Basin Pulp and Power Corporation entered into an agreement with the province and the municipality to manufacture wind energy under the provincial COMFIT (Community-Based Feed-in Tariff) program. On January 26, Minas Basin Pulp and Power met with municipal council to discuss the project, which included the revenue stream. . . .
Braeshore residents oppose wind turbine proposal
CARIBOU – “Not here!” Those are the words that Eldon MacDonald repeated Saturday morning as he listened to a windfield developer speak about a proposed wind turbine project in the Braeshore area. Andy MacCallum with Wind Prospects Inc. is looking at putting up one or two towers, which will have a capacity of 1.6 megawatts, on a piece of property formerly owned by Hughie MacDonald. The proposal would see the wind field developed through the ComFit program, which requires 25 . . .
‘Giant’ disturbs slumber
BAILEY’S BROOK – Kristin Overmyer can’t sleep at night and he says the giant in his backyard is to blame. Kristin and Susan Overmyer were two of the members of the Eco Awareness Society, which fought against the construction of wind turbines in Bailey’s Brook, but lost an appeal in the Supreme Court of Nova Scotia to block Sheer Wind from constructing the wind field because they were too late. The couple spoke about their experiences living in the shadow . . .
Wind farm owner seeks N.S. approval to expand
The owner of a Pictou County wind farm has asked the province for environmental approvals for a proposed expansion. Shear Wind Inc. of Bedford registered the second phase of its Glen Dhu project with the provincial Environment Department on Thursday. However, the province has not yet approved the expansion plan. The government will issue a request for proposals in March to acquire more renewable electricity from independent power producers. “At the end of the day, we want to be prepared . . .
Wedgeport wind farm prospect continues
The Lead Business Developer for Anaia Global Renewable Energies (AGRE) says work continues on a proposed wind farm project in Wedgeport. “The wind farm project in Wedgeport is still on our plans and we are working on it to make it ready for a request for proposals (RFP) that is to be released before the summer,” said Rodrigo Moura. Last May representatives from AGRE and Stantec Consulting provided one-on-one discussion with residents at the Wedgeport Fire Department about the proposed . . .
Kings County plans review of wind turbine bylaw
KENTVILLE — Kings County plans to revisit its new wind turbine bylaw after opposition to a test tower recently erected in the Greenfield area, south of Wolfville. “There are a lot of concerns out there, so we have committed to do a full review,” Warden Diana Brothers said in an interview. Residents of Greenfield and surrounding areas recently presented county council with a petition with almost 400 names opposing Scotian WindFields’ 60-metre test tower off Peck Meadow Road. Residents are . . .
