Nova Scotia's regulatory agency begins hearings today on a proposal to build a biomass-fuelled power generation facility that would help move the province closer to its renewable energy targets. Nova Scotia Power, a subsidiary of Emera Inc., and Newpage Port Hawkesbury Corp. want to burn 650,000 metric tonnes of wood a year to fire a steam generator. They say it will produce about three per cent of the province's total electricity needs. The applicants maintain the $200-million project will create 150 new forestry jobs and help Newpage maintain 550 jobs at its Cape Breton mill. The plan is opposed by a coalition of environmentalists and woodlot owners who fear it will lead to an increase in clear cutting and deplete biodiversity and carbon storage. Jamie Simpson, a forester with the Ecology Action Centre, says he finds it hard to believe the harvest could be sustainable. The provincial government is demanding 25 per cent of Nova Scotia's energy supply come from renewable resources by 2015.
Monday, July 26, 2010
N.S. regulator opens hearing on proposed biomass facility
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
No comments:
Post a Comment