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Wind Power News: Nova Scotia
These news and opinion items are gathered by National Wind Watch in its noncommercial educational mission to provide information about industrial wind energy development to readers seeking such information. They do not necessarily reflect the opinions of National Wind Watch. They are the products of and owned by the credited organizations or individuals and are shared here according to “fair use” and “fair dealing” provisions of copyright law. The original articles, links to which are provided, may have additional links and photos and other media that were not included here.
Blaze destroys turbine at southwest Nova Scotia wind farm
Fire crews attended a blaze at a wind farm in southwest Nova Scotia on Tuesday evening but could not reach the flames at the top of the 78-metre tower. “You can’t really fight it,” said West Pubnico Fire Department Chief Devin d’Entremont. “We just protect the surrounding areas.” D’Entremont said firefighters arrived around 9:15 p.m. to find the components at the top of the tower “fully involved.” “She was burning for a bit before we got the call,” he said. . . . Complete story »
MCANS writes N.S. Auditor General over Eigg Mountain wind farm project assessment
The Moose Conservation Association of Nova Scotia (MCANS) has written to the province’s Auditor General Kim Adair to urge her office to conduct their planned audit of environmental assessments of onshore wind energy projects as quickly as possible. It has been our ongoing contention that the Eigg Mountain, Antigonish County, wind farm project is an obvious example of how badly that assessment process can go wrong. For that reason we have asked the AG to extend particular attention to that . . . Complete story »
Moose in wind turbine sites need protection
The Moose Conservation Association of Nova Scotia (MCANS) has previously published a position statement, which, in part, underlines the shortcomings of the province’s 2021 recovery plan for mainland moose in regard to wind turbine projects. The ranking of the potential negative effects of these projects is listed as moderate in that plan, despite their frequent placements in higher elevations and other areas where there are known concentrations of moose. The erection of these towers is being conducted at an accelerating . . . Complete story »
Nova Scotia to try again after after 4 offshore projects back out
Nova Scotia Energy Minister Trevor Boudreau says his department is looking to redo a call for new onshore wind farms after four projects backed out of deals struck earlier this year. The four shelved wind farms were part of a procurement called Green Choice that was meant to meet the energy needs of 11 of the biggest consumers in the province, including the provincial government, universities and private companies. Green Choice was supposed to add 625 megawatts to the grid . . . Complete story »
‘It’s just so wrong’: Pictou County councillors vent on wind turbine setbacks
Province limits setbacks to about half of what municipality settled on. Years of work and lots of taxpayer dollars were blown out the window with one quick amendment to provincial legislation, say Pictou County councillors. It took a lot of effort over several years to come up with setback standards for wind turbines in Pictou County, said Warden Robert Parker at their May 5 meeting. The council settled on a one-kilometre setback with noise regulations. “And then along comes the . . . Complete story »
N.S. wind turbine setback regulations a government overreach, citizens group says
A Nova Scotia citizens group is sounding the alarm on what it calls the provincial government’s overreach into municipal responsibilities. “On one level, they (provincial government) want the municipalities to do things but then if municipalities put a lot of time and energy into it, and look to their community and decide what is best for the community, if the province doesn’t like it, they can just override it,” said Madeline Conacher of Green Nova Scotia First. “It’s extremely frustrating . . . Complete story »
Colchester County group ‘shocked’ by new setbacks on wind turbines
New setbacks on wind turbine regulations administered by the provincial government have left a citizens’ group wondering why. At a public hearing for Colchester County’s new municipal planning strategy and draft land use bylaw on March 27, Protect Wentworth Valley member Nancy Frame spoke of her concerns to council. “I’m shocked and dismayed that the province’s amendments to the Municipal Government Act would override council and the community’s work in favour of setback requirements,” said Frame. “I’m not sure who . . . Complete story »
Nova Scotia limits wind turbine setback regulations, denies local input on visual impact
The Provincial government has amended regulations to make it easier for wind energy projects to move forward. The Province is amending the Minimum Planning Requirements Regulations to establish maximum allowable setbacks for wind turbines for Nova Scotia municipalities. “Our government is making it easier for wind energy projects to move forward while ensuring that our communities and the environment are respected and protected,” said John Lohr, Minister of Municipal Affairs. “These amendments will provide municipalities with clear, consistent standards for . . . Complete story »
N.S. government imposes changes on West Hants wind turbine amendments
A Lower Vaughan resident is among those expressing concern after the Nova Scotia government imposed changes on West Hants Regional Municipality planning documents relating to large scale wind turbines. Steven Hart said that while he didn’t think that the municipal amendments as proposed would make it through provincial ministerial approval, he didn’t expect the province to “overrule it in such a manner to make our bylaws worse for residents or our council.” He said a public consultation process resulted in . . . Complete story »
Wind farms are killing bats in Nova Scotia, say researchers
Three migratory bat species were recommended for Canada’s species at risk list because of wind turbines. With many wind farms under development in Nova Scotia, experts say extra caution is needed to protect migratory bats from being killed by wind turbine blades. The hoary bat, the silver-haired bat, and the eastern red bat were recommended for Canada’s species at risk list in 2023 due to wind turbine fatalities. Researchers advocate that the three bat species be officially added to the . . . Complete story »
