November 25, 2011
Nova Scotia

Power producers seek project approval

By JOANN ALBERSTAT Business Reporter, The ChronicleHerald, thechronicleherald.ca 23 November 2011

A “significant number” of independent power producers are vying to be one of the projects approved next year, says the province’s renewable electricity administrator.

But John Dalton won’t reveal how many developers had declared their intention to bid by Tuesday afternoon’s deadline for doing so. Project proposals will be due in February.

“We’re very happy with the response that we have. It suggests that it’s going to be a very competitive process,” the Massachusetts-based consultant said in an interview Wednesday.

“At this point, I really don’t want to go into numbers.”

The province’s renewable energy plan requires Nova Scotia Power Inc. to buy 300 gigawatt hours per year of electricity from independent producers starting Jan. 1, 2015. That is equal to 100 megawatts of wind power.

Some developers have said they expect three or four projects to be selected.

Proposed projects can be as large as 80 megawatts, according to a draft request for proposals.

The administrator, appointed by the provincial Energy Department, plans to make a decision on projects in April.

Dalton did say Wednesday a number of developers intend to propose multiple projects, even though they can only be awarded one. Most potential bidders want to construct wind farms, he said.


URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2011/11/25/power-producers-seek-project-approval/