Plenty of wind planned for Amherst

Acciona to build 20 turbines on marsh, will sell electricity to NSP

By TOM McCOAG Amherst Bureau

AMHERST — One of the world’s leading developers of green energy announced Thursday that it will invest $55 million in construction of a 20-turbine wind farm on a marsh just outside Amherst.

"We will be using turbines manufactured by our own company that will generate 30 megawatts of power, enough to provide electricity to 10,000 homes annually," Daniel DuBois, vice-president of Acciona Energy North America Corp., said during a news conference.

The electricity generated by the wind farm will be sold to Nova Scotia Power through a 25-year power purchase agreement. Details of the agreement were not released.

The 80-metre turbines, with 37-metre blades, will be built just west of the Trans-Canada Highway on land that Acciona and its partner, Wind Dynamics of Saint John, have rented from the Amherst Sod Co.

Nova Scotia Power and several firms have announced several wind projects for the province this spring. With Thursday’s news, the power company has entered into purchase agreements that will see a total of 214 megawatts of power being generated in the province by 2010 — enough to power about 80,000 homes annually.

Rob Bennett, NSP vice-president, said the latest deal will help the power company meet its goal of producing cleaner, greener energy.

The renewable energy projects signed in recent weeks will help stabilize electricity prices in the province over the next two years, Mr. Bennett said.

Amherst Mayor Jerry Hallee welcomed the news.

"When I first came to power in 1997, this was the first project we began working on," he said. "It’s great to see it coming to fruition."

Mr. Hallee said he believes the wind farm’s proximity to the highway will make it a tourist attraction that will help make Cumberland County a destination area.

"We now need to get an interpretation centre created, one that will tell the tourists how important renewable energy projects like this are," he said.

The project will generate about $200,000 in property taxes for the Municipality of Cumberland.

"However, the taxes we get is not what is important," Warden Keith Hunter said. "The fact that we will be taking carbon dioxide out of the air is what is important, not only for Cumberland County, but the province, the country and the world."

Before construction can go ahead next spring, the project will have to pass an environmental review.

Shear Wind signs power deal with NSP

Shear Wind Inc. of Halifax announced Wednesday a 60-megawatt power purchase agreement with Nova Scotia Power Inc.

The electricity for the 20-year agreement is to come from the Glen Dhu wind park in Pictou County, near Merigomish, where Shear Wind plans to put up 30 turbines in a $150-million development.

"In addition to the initial 60 megawatts, the expansion potential . . . is an additional 170 megawatts," Mike Magnus, president of Shear Wind, said.

"This positions the Glen Dhu wind park in an optimal position to participate in export opportunities as well as future requests for proposals in order to secure additional power purchase agreements."

Shear Wind has nine wind projects in various stages of development in Alberta, Saskatchewan, New Brunswick and Nova Scotia.

The Glen Dhu wind park will be the first to produce electricity and the company’s first turbine park development.

The project is the result of a request for proposals from NSP last year for more energy from renewable sources. NSP has announced 184 megawatts of wind generation and expects to sign contracts totalling 240 megawatts.

The price per kilowatt was not disclosed.

Big wind farm unveiled today

$150-million power project near Merigomish will be province’s largest, with 30 turbines

By JUDY MYRDEN Business Reporter

Halifax wind power company Shear Wind Inc. is poised to build a $150-million wind turbine park east of New Glasgow.

The 30-turbine project on 2,420 hectares near Merigomish would be the largest in the province and would generate 60 megawatts of electricity to sell to Nova Scotia Power, a subsidiary of energy giant Emera Inc.

Details of the project, which would produce enough electricity to power 17,500 homes, are expected to be released this morning at the Lismore and District Community Hall.

"This project is not only a strong project for Shear Wind, it’s a great project for this community," said company president Michael Magnus, a former executive vice-president of Clearwater Seafood Ltd. Partnership.

"From a Nova Scotia Power perspective, it’s very complementary to its transmission system because there are three major (power) lines going through our property here in Glen Dhu, which is absolutely unheard of in Canada."

The site would also be home to Nova Scotia’s first "eco-interpretive centre," providing information about wind energy, turbines, the area’s history and plans to build hiking and bicycle paths.

"We recognize the fact there is a lot of conflict in Canada, and in the world, for that matter, when it comes to wind parks," Mr. Magnus said. "We find it’s incumbent upon us in our stewardship to educate people. So we are going to create an eco-interpretive centre to hopefully educate people on the value of renewable energy, specifically wind energy."Shear Wind would be the fourth company to sign a long-term contract with Nova Scotia Power to provide renewable energy for the provincial grid.

NSP hopes the agreements will result in an increase in the amount of electricity produced in this province by so-called green technology to 20 per cent by 2013, up from 11 or 12 per cent today.

Mr. Magnus said the company would generate $350,000 annually in tax revenue for municipal coffers.

Shear Wind plans to purchase two-megawatt, 80-metre-high turbines from German manufacturer Enercon and have them in operation by late 2009. The turbines would be erected at least one to four kilometres from any homes in the area.

Shear Wind was founded in 2006 and has nine wind power projects in various stages of development in Alberta, Saskatchewan, New Brunswick and Nova Scotia, with a total potential generation capacity in excess of 1,500 megawatts.

"We have an aggressive plan over the next 12 months," said Mr. Magnus, who has recruited energy veterans to his management team, including former Emera CEO David Mann as chairman of the board, former Alberta energy minister Murray Smith and Ian Tillard, a mechanical engineer with 25 years’ experience, the past five in the wind energy business at Barrington Wind.

The former seafood executive has shifted his focus from harvesting the ocean to harvesting the wind. And he has big plans for his new project in Nova Scotia.

A second phase of the Glen Dhu wind park could generate an additional 170 megawatts of electricity for export, he said.

The company has already made an application in the U.S. requesting certification to export electricity into Massachusetts and Connecticut from Glen Dhu and its other project in New Brunswick.

"Those are the two big markets that you want to export into," said Mr. Magnus.

"We will most likely use Emera Energy Services to manage the distribution of that power."

Shear Wind is now generating electricity on two other sites at Fitzpatricks Mountain near Pictou for a total of 1.6 megawatts under a 15-year power purchase agreement.

Mr. Magnus believes the future of wind power is "great" but opportunities are shrinking with land restrictions, limited access to transmission lines and backlash from communities against wind power.

Earth Hour tonight: 8-9pm

We are encouraged to turn out our lights and any other (non-essential) electrical appliances this evening from 8pm to 9pm.

I will participate. Not because it will save me any significant energy use (mine is already very low) but it is a gesture of solidarity with everyone else who has a concern about our environment. It is a gesture to raise awareness.

Reducing waste of our resources is the most immediate way to reduce carbons. It amazes me that in just a couple of generations, we have moved on from the time of the Depression and war time rationing when not a single morsel or scrap of paper or worn out pair of socks was not used, to see the waste we see now - particularly in The West in general and in North America in particular.

Renewable, responsibly located and utilized energy sources are another part of the picture, but unless our consumption reduces, we will eventually run out of these too.

Reduce. Reuse. Recycle.

There is a fourth R .... Refuse. Refuse to buy over packaged, unnecessary, imported (when the domestic product exists) products. Refuse to waste energy, food and water.

Cleaner & greener

Will windmills lower our power bills or clear the air of carbon emissions? Yes and no.
By JUDY MYRDEN Business Reporter
Thu. Mar 27

NOVA SCOTIA POWER’s wind power program won’t make electricity cheaper or replace dirty coal anytime soon.

But the utility says recently announced wind projects will act as a "bridge for the future" for a "cleaner and greener" province.

NSP spokeswoman Glennie Langille says it is not as straightforward as swapping wind for coal and that wind power is intermittent.

"The benefit is cleaner generation," she said.

The Nova Scotia government wants to boost the amount of electricity produced in the province by wind, solar, tidal and biomass technology to almost 20 per cent by 2013, up from 11 to 12 per cent today.

Will wind-generated electricity reduce NSP’s greenhouse gas emissions?

"That’s a good question," said Ms. Langille, adding the wind-generated electricity will be used domestically. "There’s no doubt using wind displaces something . . . most of the time a fossil fuel."

As for lowering electricity bills, that could happen in the long term, she says.

"Right now, wind power is not cheap," says Ms. Langille. "In the long term, these contracts are good for customers because they could stabilize power rates."

Kristen Overmyer questions the benefits for Nova Scotia of dotting the rural landscape with large windmills.

Mr. Overmyer, a mechanical engineer, and his wife, Susan, started visiting Baileys Brook, Pictou County, from Michigan as seasonal residents eight years ago. Since 2006, they have lived there year-round.

When he first moved to the area, he was interested in installing a wind turbine on his farm. But he has since changed his mind because of concerns about the noise and possible harm to migratory birds.

As part of NSP’s request for proposals, Shear Wind Inc. of Halifax has submitted a proposal to produce up to 108 megawatts of wind-generated electricity at a site near Mr. Overmyer’s home.

If its bid is successful, Shear Wind intends to have the facility operating in 2009.

The site to be developed, called Glen Dhu, is located on 2,420 hectares east of New Glasgow. But only part of the land will be used, according to documents filed with securities regulators.

Mr. Overmyer is frustrated by what he calls a lack of clarity about the benefits of wind power.

"I’m concerned that Nova Scotia Power is not giving us any specifics, and people are making decisions on falsehoods. They know there is a trade-off to having wind turbines and they think they are getting something positive in return — not burning coal," he said Wednesday.

"I can’t believe they are this far into the process and can’t tell people what the immediate benefits are to Nova Scotians," he said.

Ms. Langille refused to comment on Shear Wind’s proposal, but the firm is rumoured to be the next successful bidder in NSP’s call for more green energy.

She said the utility will be signing contracts "as appropriate" and not making any further comments.

NSP has already signed deals for slightly more than half of the 240 megawatts specified in its call for proposals.

The three deals announced so far are being called "long term" but no further details or the price to be paid per kilowatt hour are being released.

The Utility and Review Board, which oversees NSP, says it will not be reviewing the wind contracts until the next general rate increase application and if someone at that time indicates NSP has acted "imprudently," said spokesman Paul Allen.

The secrecy surrounding the wind power contracts worries Brendan Haley of the Ecology Action Centre. He argues it makes it difficult for many to get into the market, including farmers and co-ops in rural Nova Scotia.

Mr. Haley said a fixed price, instead of the current competitive bidding process, would be more transparent.

"The public will know that we are paying a reasonable cost for wind-energy development to secure its economic and environmental benefits."

Wind farm needs a bit more breeze

By JUDY MYRDEN Business Reporter
Fri. Mar 28

Atlantic Canada’s largest wind farm could use a little more fuel, say the owners of the Pubnico Point Wind farm in Yarmouth County.

Electrical production from the turbines was down along with wind volumes in 2007, said Derren Newell, chief financial officer for Creststreet Power and Income Fund LP, which is trying to sell the wind turbine farm.

Creststreet Power and Income of Toronto, a majority owner of the $50-million wind farm, released results showing wind production was five per cent below management’s long-term projection.

"The majority of the deviation in energy production was the result of wind speeds that were below the projected long-term average," Creststreet Power reported Thursday in its annual financial results for 2007.

Mr. Newell would not discuss the lower production in relation to the company’s "voluntary" shutdown of the turbines.

Today, Creststreet is expected to release "more complete financial information" on its two wind projects, Pubnico Point and Mount Copper in Quebec, said Mr. Newell of Calgary.

Despite Pubnico Point’s declining electricity production, the company reported higher revenues, crediting higher wind speeds.

Electrical revenues were $17.6 million, an increase from $15.3 million from 2006.

In its latest financial results, the company said a special committee is continuing to work on selling the wind farm.

The decision to sell the wind farm was announced last fall in response to the federal government’s decision to eliminate the tax benefits of trusts.

An independent board of directors of Creststreet has set up a special committee to conduct a "strategic review" of the income fund’s two wind energy projects in Quebec and Nova Scotia, which have a total of 47 wind turbines and power generating capacity of 84.6 megawatts.

The new tax rules come into effect in 2011, but the board is looking at selling the assets while renewable energy is a "hotly traded commodity," Mr. Newell has previously said.

EarthFirst buys out wind farm

Calgary firm pays $450,000, share of revenue for Nuttby Mountain project

By JUDY MYRDEN Business Reporter

Nova Scotia’s gales blew in a late blast of winter Tuesday, along with a Calgary company determined to create power and make money in this windy province.

EarthFirst Canada Inc., a newly created wind company, announced it has bought the proposed 45-megawatt Nuttby Mountain wind energy project in Colchester County from Atlantic Wind Power Corp. and its partner, Cobequid Area Windfarms.

EarthFirst paid $75,000 cash, along with $374,400 in shares (based on 192,000 shares at $1.95 of EarthFirst) and a small share of gross revenue over the life of the project, Derren Newell, vice-president finance, said in a telephone interview from Calgary.

EarthFirst, which has two other wind projects in B.C., will enter into a service agreement with Atlantic Wind Power to provide services for the construction of the project in exchange for a monthly fee and project completion fee.

Before the project proceeds, the developers must obtain municipal and provincial permits. Negotiations for a turbine sale and warranty and service agreements are underway.

"Nuttby is a good example of EarthFirst’s expertise in acquiring advanced stage wind projects that can be moved forward into construction and operation quickly," Robert Toole, EarthFirst CEO, said at a news conference. "Our goal is to have the project completed and in service by the end of 2009."

Nova Scotia Power will purchase the wind-generated power but details of that agreement, including the price paid per kilowatt, were not disclosed.

The wind farm, with up to 22 turbines, will cost $90 million to $100 million and will be located about four kilometres north of the village of Nuttby and six kilometres east of Earltown. The turbines will produce enough energy to power about 15,000 homes.

NSP’s contract with EarthFirst is the second of six agreements for renewable energy resulting from a competitive bidding process announced last year by the privately owned utility. The utility is expected to make another wind purchase announcement on Thursday.

Atlantic Wind Power, also the developer of a proposed wind farm in the Pugwash area, has worked with principals of EarthFirst in developing Nova Scotia’s largest wind farm, at Pubnico Point.

EarthFirst was formed last December after a restructuring of Creststreet, a co-owner of the Pubnico Point wind farm. Creststreet recently put the Pubnico Wind farm up for sale.

Rob Bennett, NSP vice-president of resource and sustainability, filled in for president Ralph Tedesco, who was unable to attend the news conference at the Marigold Centre.

Lisa Betts, chairwoman of the Gulf Shore Preservation Association, which is opposed to Atlantic Wind Power’s other proposed project in Pugwash, endorsed the Nuttby project.

"The Nuttby wind project appears to be well located, with turbines 1.5 kilometres from homes, the majority of local people in favour of it and NSPI transmission lines nearby. . . . This is a good example of how important it is for wind energy companies to strongly consider location as it affects the local population and economic structure," she said in an e-mail after attending the news conference.

Purchasing more renewable energy is part of NSP’s overall business strategy to use less pollution-causing coal at power plants across the province in the future.

EarthFirst’s share price remained unchanged on Tuesday at $1.95 per share. The stock’s 52-week high is $2.10 and its 52-week low is $1.45.