NSP: Approve project by Dec. 1
Company plans to build wind farm
Nova Scotia Power Inc. has told government regulators it must soon break ground on its proposed $120-million wind farm in Colchester County or customers will face higher costs.
The power company is asking the Utility and Review Board to approve by Dec. 1 its application to build a 22-turbine wind farm at Nuttby Mountain, about 20 kilometres north of Truro.
"Delayed approval may increase the cost of the project," Nova Scotia Power states in a filing with the board.
The company wants to begin construction next year so the wind turbines could be producing electricity by March 31, 2011, and qualify for federal wind-power incentives.
Ottawa has funding available through the ecoEnergy program, which represents $14 million over the first decade of production at Nuttby Mountain.
"Were construction to be necessary after that time, additional costs and also safety issues must be managed," Nova Scotia Power says.
The utility filed its application to the review board last month.
Before the board makes a decision on the 45-megawatt wind farm, it is allowing interested parties to ask questions about the project. On Friday, Nova Scotia Power responded to hundreds of queries.
It admitted it plans to proceed with the wind-power project even if the federal funding doesn’t come through.
"NSPI will proceed with the project if ecoEnergy incentive funding is not available," the utility says.
The project is to include buying and erecting 22 turbines rated at 2.05 megawatts each, construction of a new substation and transmission lines at Nuttby Mountain.
The power company has already received approval from the review board to buy the turbines and begin construction, but at the risk of shareholders.
Nova Scotia Power bought the development rights to Nuttby Mountain in April from financially troubled EarthFirst Canada Inc. of Calgary.
The power company said its design for the wind farm would generate electricity for more than 10 per cent less cost than what customers would have paid through the contract with EarthFirst.
The turbines would produce enough energy to power about 15,000 homes. The project has the potential to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by more than 100,000 tonnes annually.
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