Nova Scotia has completed the procurement of 625 megawatts (MW) of wind power generation and signed up 11 large-scale electricity customers for the pending output, which is expected to flow into Nova Scotia Power’s grid by the end of 2028. The initiative, dubbed the Green Choice Program, aligns with a target for at least 80 per cent of the province’s electricity supply to be generated from renewable sources by 2030.
“The Green Choice Program is the single largest addition of clean electricity and the single largest reduction in greenhouse gas emissions in Nova Scotia’s history,” says the provincial Energy Minister, Trevor Boudreau. “Our province has incredible onshore and offshore wind speeds. Now is the time to use it to our advantage.”
The six participating wind farms are joint ventures between private developers and Nova Scotia based Mi’kmaw enterprises associated with the Glooscap, Eskasoni, Potlotek, We’koqma’q L’nue’kati, Wagmatook, Paq’tnkek and Pictou Landing First Nations, and are located in counties that border the Bay of Fundy, the Northumberland Strait and the west shore of Cape Breton. Canada Infrastructure Bank is helping to underwrite development costs and Nova Scotia Power has power purchase contracts in place for an average of $63.62 per megawatt-hour (6.36 cents per kilowatt-hour).
“Our loans will reduce ratepayer impacts as well as provide equity to participating First Nations, supporting meaningful ownership opportunities in the recently awarded energy projects,” says Ehren Cory, chief executive officer of Canada Infrastructure Bank.
“We aim to build meaningful partnerships that protect the well-being of our community while addressing the need for cleaner, more sustainable energy sources that also reduce energy costs,” concurs Chief Sidney Peters of Glooscap First Nation, which has a majority stake in three of the projects, in partnership with SWEB Development. “We are committed to meaningful action that balances economic reconciliation with environmental stewardship.”
The participating customers all have direct accounts with Nova Scotia Power and annual consumption of at least 10,000 megawatt-hours. This encompasses several large public sector entities including the provincial government’s building portfolio (including elementary and secondary schools and most health care facilities), federal buildings in Nova Scotia, most post-secondary institutions, the Halifax and Cape Breton regional municipalities and the Halifax International Airport Authority. Three private sector companies — WalMart Canada, Michelin and PSA Canada Ventures — round out the list.
The subscribed wind power customers will be able to avoid the carbon tax that’s factored into fossil-fuel-fired electricity costs, and will receive renewable energy certificates to verify calculations of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions reduction tied to their power purchases. In turn, they will pay a small administration fee on top of their regular electricity rate.