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.
Board OKs wind farm appeal bid
BRIDGEWATER — The developers of the South Canoe wind project and Chester municipal council have failed in their bid to quash an appeal of a South Shore wind farm. The Nova Scotia Utility and Review Board ruled Thursday that Friends of South Canoe Lake and Homburg Land Bank Corporation Limited are “aggrieved persons” under the Municipal Government Act. The municipality and project developers Nova Scotia Power Inc., Minas Basin Pulp and Power Limited and Oxford Frozen Foods Limited had argued . . .
Developer aims for fall start constructing turbines
SYDNEY — A developer of a two-turbine wind farm on Boularderie Island says construction on the project will begin this fall if it receives environmental approval from the province next month as expected. Andy MacCallum, vice-president of developments for Natural Forces Wind Inc., gave Cape Breton regional council Tuesday its first update on the project in nearly two years. The construction of the wind farm on privately-leased farmland has created a debate about the need for renewable energy and the . . .
Sou’Wester Wind Field under order to cease trade
The Nova Scotia Securities Commission has issued a permanent cease-trade order against The Sou’Wester Wind Field Inc. for failing to file continuous disclosure documents. A representative of the community economic development corporation failed to show up at a securities commission hearing Thursday. It had planned wind power projects in Queens, Shelburne and Lunenburg counties. “I’ve always been crossing my fingers, hoping that they would move forward under the larger umbrella of Scotian WindFields,” said Queens MLA Vicki Conrad, a former . . .
Residents not big fans of proposed wind farm
LITTLE BRAS D’OR — When it comes to a proposed two-turbine wind project in Hillside Boularderie, there are two sides to the issue. On one side is the company, now in the process of seeking approvals to build the 4 MW wind farm across from the Groves Point Provincial Park. The two turbines will be located just over a kilometre away from the nearest home and according to their assessments, everything is right on track. “Overall, the results of the . . .
No windfall for us
Re: the May 7 article announcing $5.5 million invested by private citizens through the Community Economic Development Investment Fund (CEDIF) in a wind energy project. The article states 65 per cent of that money will be reimbursed to the investors through tax credits from the provincial government under the terms of the CEDIF program over a 10-year period. So, in fact, 65 per cent of $5.5 million (roughly $3.6 million) of taxpayers’ money is being turned over to the private . . .
Hilden residents seeking answers to churning questions
HILDEN – Lots of questions, still seeking answers. That was the perspective offered Tuesday evening by visitors to an open house in Hilden regarding the release of an environmental assessment for a four-megawatt, two-turbine wind project proposed for the area. “We’re just basically getting some information,” said Joan Hansen, of Lower Truro, who attended the open house along with her husband Rick. So too for Joanne and Greg McNutt of Truro who also were seeking first-hand information about the project. . . .
CBRM wants clarification on wind farm development
SYDNEY — The Cape Breton Regional Municipality is looking for clarification from the province on the jurisdictional authority over wind farm development. Both the province and the municipality through legislation have control to regulate wind turbines. The CBRM issues the development permit while the province is in charge of issuing the necessary permits for construction and operation of the turbines. At a council meeting Tuesday, there were councillors who felt it should solely be a provincial responsibility since most complaints . . .
Meeting on proposed wind farm to be held Thursday
BRAS D’OR — Details of an environmental assessment will be up for discussion when Natural Forces Inc. holds its third public meeting in Cape Breton concerning its proposed Hillside Boularderie wind farm. The meeting set for Thursday at the Bras d’Or Community Hall follows the company’s submission of an environmental assessment to the Department of Environment on behalf of Wind4All Communities Inc. for the proposed wind farm. “It is not really part of the environmental assessment,” said Amy Pellerine, development . . .
Wind farm open houses planned for next week in Millbrook, Hilden
HILDEN – The next round of open houses relating to wind farm projects in Truro Heights and Milbrook are slated for Monday and Tuesday. “We are approaching a milestone in the development of our wind projects at Truro Heights and Millbrook with the completion of the environmental assessment,” Keith Towse, CEO of Community Wind Farms Inc., said in a news release. The environmental assessments report is published on the following websites: www.truroheightswindfarm.ca and www.millbrookwindfarm.ca . The first open house information . . .
Ratepayers on hook for NSP share of project
Nova Scotia is in desperate need to overhaul the way provincial energy decisions are made. On Friday, the Nova Scotia Utility and Review Board approved Nova Scotia Power Inc.’s plan to spend $93 million on its share of the South Canoe wind farm in Lunenburg County, a move that will have the backing of ratepayers. The review board approved the application based in part on Nova Scotia Power executives stating that the utility’s participation in South Canoe would make that . . .
