Digby Wind farm heads to assessment phase

Jeanne Whitehead, Digby Courier

SkyPower Corp. and Scotian Windfields Inc., who plan to construct a 20-turbine wind farm in the Gulliver’s Cove area this year, are expected to officially registered the project for environmental assessment April 30.

SkyPower is inviting the public to submit written comments to Nova Scotia’s Environmental Assessment Branch on or before May 30.

An advertisement in this issue of The Digby Courier also states that construction is planned to start in September with the 30-megawatt facility becoming operational next spring.

The timeline reflects a delay in the original goal. When the project was announced last May, the developers stated the wind field would be supplying electricity to Nova Scotia Power by the end of this year.

Over the past year, a number of Digby Neck residents have expressed opposition to the project. They say they are not opposed to wind power, but that turbines should be far enough from homes that they do not affect the quality of life for residents.

Those opposing the current project have said noise and ‘infra-noise’ produced by turbines may cause headaches, insomnia, heart palpitations, stress, anxiety and depression for people living close to the turbines. They also worry that the flicker effect of the turbines may trigger seizures in a resident who suffers from epilepsy.

Dr. Robert McMurtry, the former dean of medicine at the University of Western Ontario, last week called on the Ontario government for a moratorium on the construction of wind turbines until studies on the safety or potential harm of wind turbines have been conducted.

McMurtry quoted from an informal survey of 76 people who live near wind turbines. At least one health complaint—which they believed was the result of the turbines—was reported by 53 of the respondents.

http://www.novanewsnow.com/article-331625-Wind-farm-heads-to-assessment-phase.html

NSP wasn’t left just blowing in the wind

ROGER TAYLOR

Chronicle Herald, Business

I HAD THE IMPRESSION the provincial government restricted Nova Scotia Power Inc. from getting directly involved in wind generation, but the real answer is more complicated than that.

It turns out Nova Scotia Power always had the ability to build its own wind farm, according to an Energy Department spokesman who called me on Friday to clarify the issue.

In my Friday column, I indicated the government had relaxed its rules to allow the power company to acquire a wind farm. I thought the government’s original plan was for Nova Scotia Power to acquire green power from a number of independent power producers, rather than allow it to further expand its control over power production in Nova Scotia by developing its own sources of renewable energy.

Part of reason for the misunderstanding comes from the energy minister himself.

In a report that aired on the CBC on March 16, Energy Minister Barry Barnet said allowing Nova Scotia Power to invest in independent wind power producers would help solve a cash crunch faced by many of the independent power producers and, at the same time, help the power company develop green energy vendors that would allow the utility to meet its renewable energy targets.

"I think there was kind of a mutual coming-of-the-minds that this is the way we can meet each other’s objectives," Barnet was quoted by the CBC. "It’s imbedded within the regulation and I’m not sure why it was put in there in the first place. The idea was to have the independent producers have the ability to operate separately from Nova Scotia Power."

Earlier this week, rather than simply investing in an independent power producer, it was revealed the power company had acquired all of the rights to a proposed wind farm on Nuttby Mountain from a financially troubled, independent power developer.

Energy Department spokesman Matthew Lumley told me on Friday that Nova Scotia Power always had the right to build its own sources of renewable power. Whatever green power NSP produces, however, would not be included when calculating the amount of green energy it acquires from independent power producers.

According the renewable power regulations, the power company is required to hit targets for acquiring power from independent producers by 2010. And a second overall green energy target, which could include renewable power Nova Scotia Power produces itself by the year 2013.

If it doesn’t meet the renewable power targets, he says, Nova Scotia Power will face a financial penalties.

Earlier this year the power company signed deals with a number of independent producers to bring wind energy on line by the end of the year. Nuttby Mountain was among those projects.

Now that Nova Scotia Power owns the Nuttby project its electrical production won’t be allowed to be included when determining how much green power the utility acquires from independent power producers, Lumley says.

The government’s goal is to find a way of getting more green energy onto the grid, says Lumley.

The government is very aware of Nova Scotia’s heavy reliance on coal-based fuels for power generation and therefore wanted to "green the grid," he says.

But that goal has to be achieved in a way that is sensitive to the needs of people on fixed incomes, seniors and small and large businesses that are particularly sensitive to changes in power rates.

Lumley admits the efforts, and the regulations that go with it, to generate electricity from more renewable energy can seem complicated. "If you lift one hat . . . it’s like there are 15 more hats underneath it."

Meanwhile, he says Nova Scotia Power will need to receive permission from the Nova Scotia Utility and Review Board before it starts spending money to build the Nuttby Mountain wind farm.

http://thechronicleherald.ca/Business/1118411.html

Emera buys half of U.S. power company

N.S. firm teams up with Algonquin
By JUDY MYRDEN Business Reporter
Fri. Apr 24 - 5:45 AM

Nova Scotia Power’s parent company is teaming up with an Ontario income fund to form a new renewable energy utility in California.

Emera Inc. of Halifax will spend $27.6 million buying a 9.9 per cent stake in the Algonquin Power Income Fund of Oakville, Ont., the companies announced Thursday.

As a first step in their new 50-50 partnership, Emera and Algonquin will buy the California electricity distribution and related generation assets of the Sierra Pacific Power Co. from NV Energy of Nevada for about US$116 million, subject to certain working capital and other closing adjustments.

Sierra Pacific provides electricity to about 47,000 customers in the Lake Tahoe region of Nevada. Emera and Algonquin will jointly own and operate Sierra Pacific through a newly formed entity, California Pacific Electric Co. (Calpeco).

Emera’s 50 per cent equity investment in Calpeco is US$27 million. The transaction is subject to approval, expected next year, from the California Public Utilities Commission.

"This partnership positions Emera to increase our holdings of renewable energy in North America and introduces us to a new market," Emera president Chris Huskilson said in a news release Thursday.

"It also allows us to increase value to jointly owned energy infrastructure assets with Algonquin Power. We look forward to working with Algonquin to build on our portfolio in the utilities and renewable energy sectors."

Emera will buy its 9.9 per cent stake in Algonquin when the Calpeco transaction closes next year. The Nova Scotia energy giant also has rights to acquire up to five per cent more of Algonquin over the next two years.

For Algonquin, "the acquisition of the California utility assets represents an important element in the strategic expansion of Algonquin Power’s low-risk utility infrastructure portfolio, and the highly predictable, long-term regulated returns from these assets will contribute to the stability of our earnings for years to come," Ian Robertson, executive director of the Algonquin Power Income Fund, said in a release.

Nova Scotia Liberal Leader Stephen McNeil criticized Emera, which owns Nova Scotia Power and Bangor Hydro in Maine, for investing outside the province and the Maritimes.

"Earlier this year, Nova Scotia Power admitted it needs to invest $100 million over the next five years in order to improve reliability to its customers here," Mr. McNeil said. "Nova Scotians are being asked to wait while Emera invests all over North America and the Caribbean."

Last year, Nova Scotia Power contributed $105.6 million to Emera’s bottom line.

"Obviously, Nova Scotia Power customers are not getting a fair shake," Mr. McNeil said. "Let’s see some investment here in our province."

Emera’s stock traded up 30 cents a share on the Toronto Stock Exchange on Thursday, closing at $20.11.

http://thechronicleherald.ca/Business/1118339.html

Wind farmer wants penalty removed

By ROGER TAYLOR Business Columnist

A DEVELOPER building a 51-megawatt, 34-turbine wind farm on Dalhousie Mountain says he isn’t worried about competing with Nova Scotia Power Inc.

Reuben Burge, president of RMSenergy Ltd. in Westville, has a long-term agreement with Nova Scotia Power to build the wind farm by the end of 2009. At the time the deal was signed, government rules prevented NSP from building its own wind farms, which was an effort to create a competitive market for independent power producers.

More recently, however, the provincial government relaxed those rules. Subsequent to that, the provincial utility acquired the development rights to a proposed 45-megawatt project to be built on Nuttby Mountain from financially troubled EarthFirst Canada Inc. of Calgary.

That deal, which includes land leases, transmission interconnection rights and provincial environmental approval, raised concerns among politicians who thought Nova Scotia Power might eventually force out the smaller producers.

"I still believe this doesn’t change the competitive playing field," Mr. Burge told me in a phone conversation on Thursday.

"I don’t believe it’s too bad. In some ways it’s good because it means a lot more wind is going to get on the grid this year."

He said he doubts the provincial regulator would allow NSP to charge a rate for wind power generated from its project that is different from the rate for independent producers.

"I don’t feel threatened. I think they’ll maintain a good process. I’m having very good luck with Nova Scotia Power. . . . I feel the way it’s been going on so far has served us well," says Mr. Burge.

While some people have talked about government providing loans to independent power producers to help the little guys to compete, Mr. Burge says he’s not so sure he would want that.

The biggest issue facing independent power producers is the cost of debt, he admits, but generally the terms of government loans are usually too short-term to meet the long-term needs of wind power.

There is one thing, however, which he says government could do to help the little guy.

"Right now, the government will apply a penalty if we don’t get built by the end of 2009. Instead of offering a penalty to put us under pressure, they should be offering an incentive.

"If we complete (the wind farm) in 2009 or in the subsequent year . . . then we would be offered an incentive, like a certain amount per kilowatt hour for a 10-year period."

Mr. Burge, who has one equity partner and debt financing, says providing an incentive would give the independent producer something to show the banker, which could alleviate concerns about extending a loan. An incentive is just one more positive thing the bank would look at when evaluating the project, he says.

RMSenergy incurred additional expenses because of the threat of penalty, he says. Turbines were purchased when the price was high. Mr. Burge estimates he paid about five per cent more for his turbines.

"We didn’t have time to negotiate, either. We didn’t have time to find deals. . . . We probably shelled out another five per cent."

The turbines will arrive this summer. Meanwhile, the company is working on foundations and road construction.

"We’ll be averaging 100 full-time employees from now until Sept. 30."

http://thechronicleherald.ca/Business/1118302.html

Reports of wind farm health problems growing

Updated Wed. Apr. 22 2009 4:02 PM ET

CTV.ca News Staff

More people are coming forward saying they're experiencing sleep problems, headaches, and heart palpitations caused by living near windmills.

Ontario physician Dr. Robert McMurtry told a news conference in Toronto Wednesday that while wind energy may offer a cleaner, more efficient way to generate electricity, those who live near the giant turbines are suffering through serious health problems.

McMurtry, a retired orthopedic surgeon who used to be an assistant deputy minister of the Population and Public Health Branch of Health Canada, decided to look into the health effects of windmills with the help of Carmen Krogh, a retired Alberta pharmacist.

Krogh and a group of volunteers distributed questionnaires in areas near wind farms, asking residents to describe whether they have experienced any effects from the turbines.

Of 76 people who responded to their informal survey, 53 reported at least one health complaint. They complained of:

• headaches
• heart palpitations
• hearing problems
• stress, anxiety and depression

He reports that one resident had to be admitted to hospital with an acute hypertensive episode. Another experienced atrial fibrillation (abnormal heart rhythm).

"There is no question that they are genuinely suffering, and more people are at risk if the rules are not changes substantially," McMurtry told the committee.

Krogh's survey revealed that most of those who complained of health problems lived within a kilometre of a wind farm, while those further away were less likely to experience health problems.

The turbines don't appear to affect everyone equally and it is not clear what causes the health problems in some people. Some suspect that the constant, low frequency noise and vibration from the rotating blades may be what cause the problems.

But research into the problem is lacking. That's why McMurtry is calling on governments to conduct a lot more studies into the turbines' effects on the health of nearby residents.

"There is no epidemiological study that has been conducted that establishes either the safety or harmfulness of industrial wind turbines. In short, there is an absence of evidence," McMurtry told an Ontario government committee Wednesday.

The committee is debating The Green Energy and Green Economy Act, 2009, a bill that would enact standards for renewable energy projects, such as standardized setback requirements for wind farms.

McMurtry told the committee that until there are rigorous epidemiological studies of the health effects of wind turbines, Ontario should not go ahead with any further construction of wind turbines.

Wind power advocates contend that studies have been conducted in North America and other parts of the world and they show that residents who live near wind farms have few complaints about them.

Sean Whittaker, vice president of the Canadian Wind Energy Association, said these studies "have really come to the same conclusion and that is there is no evidence that wind turbines have an impact on human health."

Whittaker told CTV News that research he has reviewed shows that the percentage of people who approve of wind power increases the closer you get to a wind farm.

Barbara Ashbee is not one of those people.

Ashbee lives in the shadow of 11 of the 45 giant wind turbines at the Melanchthon wind farm near Shelburne, Ont., about 100 kilometres northwest of Toronto. At first, she liked the idea of living near a green-energy facility.

"I thought it was a great idea for the environment," she told CTV News.

But the day the turbines started running, she and her husband, Denis Lormand, stopped sleeping.

"They are so loud we didn't get any sleep. You can hear them in the bedroom. There is also a hum and vibration that permeates the house," she says

All that deprivation started to lead to cognitive abilities, she contends.

"My memory now is horrible," she says. "It's terrible to go night after night without sleep. We go to bed 7 p.m. because we don't know what the night will bring."

Her husband also suffers from tinnitus, which causes a constant whining sound in his ears.

With more construction at the Melanchthon wind power centre expected to bring the number of turbines at the facility to 133, the couple says they would love to sell their house but can't.

"Between the noise and the vibration, we couldn't put a For Sale sign here. There's no way," says Ashbee.

Ashbee says she has no problem with the concept of wind farms, but she says they simply shouldn't be built near residences.

"I thought they were wonderful, but they're not. There are big problems and they have to get sorted out," she says.

With a report by CTV medical specialist Avis Favaro and producer Elizabeth St. Philip

http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20090422/wind_farms_090422/20090422?hub=TopStories

Nova Scotia Power taking over development of Nuttby wind project

HARRY SULLIVAN
The Truro Daily News

HALIFAX – New life is being breathed into the Nuttby Mountain wind project through news that Nova Scotia Power (NSP) has taken over the venture’s development rights.

“Becoming directly involved as the developer of the Nuttby wind project should allow it to advance, despite the challenges that exist in today’s financial markets,” said Robin McAdam, NSP’s executive vice-president of sustainability. “We know how to build a wind project and we believe we have access to financing to do this sort of thing.”

The Nuttby Mountain development rights are currently owned by Calgary-based EarthFirst Canada Inc., and include land leases and transmission interconnection rights as well as provincial environmental approval. EarthFirst commenced a process to sell the project last August and is currently operating under creditor protection.

The proposed wind farm would have a maximum capacity of 45 megawatts and is designed to produce enough energy to power approximately 15,000 homes. NSP said the project has the potential to reduce the province’s greenhouse gas emissions by more than 100,000 tonnes annually.

Initial development came through Atlantic Wind Power Corp (AWPC), which sold it to EarthFirst. AWPC had planned to manage construction of the project to completion but McAdam said the Atlantic team, led by Charles Demond, will remain involved with the project through a service contract with NSP.

“He’ll provide advisory support to all aspects of the project,” McAdam said. And while NSP is “very much in an as-soon-as-possible mode” to get the project started, McAdam said, the fact that EarthFirst had yet to have a turbine model selected means they now have to get out into that market to see what is available. “That will be a big driver in the schedule.”

As well, there still is geo-technical work to be done at the site to ensure the proper foundations are constructed for the turbines.

The bottom line, though, is that NSP’s involvement removes any uncertainty that had been surrounding the project. “It’s just too early to be very specific (regarding timelines). We want to get it up as fast as we can,” McAdam said. “We’re proceeding with this project because we want to see renewables (energy) advanced in Nova Scotia ...

“Nova Scotia Power is committed to expanding its use of renewable energy from all available sources, including biomass, tidal and wind.”

http://www.trurodaily.com/index.cfm?sid=244340&sc=68

Nova Scotia Power acquires Nuttby wind project

CBC News

Last Updated: Tuesday, April 21, 2009 | 6:37 PM AT

Nova Scotia Power has acquired the rights to a wind farm on Nuttby Mountain, north of Truro.

NSPI ended up with the project when owner EarthFirst Canada filed for protection from bankruptcy and turned over the site instead of paying NSPI the money it owes for breaking its wind power contract.

For NSPI, it means developing wind power to supply electricity to 15,000 homes and begin reducing its greenhouse gas emissions.

"We're committed to a greener fuel profile," said Rob McAdam, NSPI's vice-president for sustainability. "At the same time we face carbon reduction requirements, separate legislation, so this will help us with that."

The Nova Scotia government has ordered NSPI to generate five per cent of its electricity from renewable sources next year, rising to 20 per cent in four years.

Ordering turbines for Nuttby Mountain won't help NSPI meet its deadline for next year, since the future of several other wind farms is up in the air.

McAdam can't say whether NSPI will comply with the legislation.

"I think it clearly will be challenging. We're doing everything we can to advance renewable projects to help meet that target," he said.

If NSPI cannot meet its five-per-cent target next year, under the Environment Act the corporation could be hit with financial penalties of hundreds of thousands of dollars each day.

http://www.cbc.ca/canada/nova-scotia/story/2009/04/21/ns-nsp-nuttby.html

NSP snaps up Colchester wind power project

By JUDY MYRDEN Business Reporter
Wed. Apr 22 - 6:47 AM

Nova Scotia Power gobbled up one of the province’s independent wind power projects Tuesday.

A proposed $90-million wind energy farm in Colchester County was put up for sale last October after its Calgary developer sought bankruptcy protection. EarthFirst Canada Inc. had announced it was not putting any more money into the wind farm, located at Nuttby Mountain, 20 kilometres north of Truro.

"This project was the one that was most clearly stalled," Robin McAdam, Nova Scotia Power’s vice-president of sustainability, said Tuesday.

"Becoming directly involved as the developer of the Nuttby wind project should allow it to advance, despite the challenges that exist in today’s financial markets."

EarthFirst said it sold the project for $800,000, minus working capital and other adjustments. In fact, Mr. McAdam said Nova Scotia Power will get a cheque for $300,000, as it held a security deposit of $1.125 million in case the project did not proceed.

Last year, EarthFirst signed a 25-year purchase power agreement with Nova Scotia Power for wind-generated electricity. It was one of six agreements for renewable energy resulting from a competitive bidding process and scheduled to be in operation by the end of this year.

The Nuttby Mountain wind project includes land leases and transmission interconnection rights as well as provincial environmental approval. Federal environmental approval, which would take advantage of financial incentives worth million of dollars for renewable energy projects, is underway, Mr. McAdam said.

The provincial government has ordered Nova Scotia Power to buy 10 per cent of its electricity from independent power producers by 2010. Energy Minister Barry Barnet said Tuesday the legislation is supposed to encourage competition in the marketplace and allow independent wind power producers to get a toehold in the province.

"These things weren’t going anywhere quick with the financial meltdown," Mr. Barnet said.

He said the government is looking at amending the regulations and allowing electricity that Nova Scotia Power generates at Nuttby Mountain to be included in its 2010 target for renewable energy.

NDP Leader Darrell Dexter slammed the government for considering changing the rules for Nova Scotia Power and entrenching the utility’s monopoly.

"If the real issue is access to capital, then shouldn’t the government be, if you are committed to a process and policy, then shouldn’t (Mr. Barnet) actually find ways to try to address the question of capital rather than just changing the policy?" Mr. Dexter said.

The Nuttby wind farm would have a capacity of 45 megawatts and would produce enough energy to power about 15,000 homes. The original plan for the wind farm included up to 22 wind turbines but the latest plan has 15 larger turbines, Mr. McAdam said. He said it is "too early to tell" when the project will be up and running.

"The project developers had not made turbine commitments so they didn’t have turbines lined up," he said. "Secondly, there hadn’t been geotechnical investigations done on-site."

Atlantic Wind Power Corp. of Bedford, led by Charles Demond and his team, will stay involved with the project through a service contract with Nova Scotia Power.

Atlantic Wind Power sold the development rights for the Nuttby Mountain project to EarthFirst in February 2008 for $75,000 cash, $374,000 in EarthFirst shares (192,000 shares at $1.95 each) and a small percentage of gross revenue over the life of the project.

Nova Scotia Power’s takeover of the Nuttby Mountain project is subject to the approval of the Court of Queen’s Bench of Alberta next Monday.

~~~~~

POWER PLAYS

1978: Wreck Cove hydro plant comes online in Cape Breton (220 megawatts).

1981: Nova Scotia Power becomes the first Canadian power company to set up a large-scale commercial wind turbine, at Wreck Cove.

1984: Annapolis tidal plant becomes operational (20 megawatts).

1995: Taylor Lumber Co. of Middle Musquodoboit becomes the first independent sawmill operator to start selling energy from biomass to Nova Scotia Power.

1996: Nova Scotia Power begins buying energy generated from wood byproducts from the Brooklyn Energy co-generation facility.

2002: Nova Scotia Power commissions two wind turbines, in Grand Etang and Little Brook.

2002: Nova Scotia Power selects the Pubnico Point Wind Farm through a request for proposals process.

2004: The Pubnico Point Wind Farm starts generating electricity for the Nova Scotia Power grid (30.6 megawatts).

2004: Nova Scotia Power launches two separate calls for renewable power. Contracts are awarded for wind, biomass and biogas projects.

2007: Provincial government proclaims a renewable energy standard.

2007: Nova Scotia Power announces that Open Hydro of Ireland has become a partner for an in-stream tidal power demonstration project. The pilot project is to be in operation late this year.

2007: Nova Scotia Power announces purchase agreements totalling 246 megawatts of electricity for seven wind projects, including one at Nuttby Mountain.

2008: Nova Scotia Power issues requests for proposals for production of biomass energy and renewable energy.

2009: Nova Scotia Power completes test-burning of wood-based biomass.

Source: Nova Scotia Power

http://thechronicleherald.ca/Business/1117959.html

Nova Scotia Power to purchase development rights for Nuttby Mountain Wind Project

April 21, 2009 - Nova Scotia Power today announced that it has signed an agreement to purchase development rights for a proposed wind farm located at Nuttby Mountain, 20 kilometres north of Truro. The proposed wind farm would have a maximum capacity of 45 megawatts and would produce enough energy to power approximately 15,000 homes. The project has the potential to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in Nova Scotia by over 100,000 tonnes annually.

The Nuttby Mountain development rights are currently owned by Calgary-based EarthFirst Canada Inc., and include land leases and transmission interconnection rights as well as provincial environmental approval. EarthFirst commenced a process to sell the project in August 2008 and are currently operating under creditor protection.

“Nova Scotia Power is committed to expanding its use of renewable energy from all available sources, including biomass, tidal and wind,” said Robin McAdam, Executive Vice President of Sustainability for Nova Scotia Power. “Becoming directly involved as the developer of the Nuttby wind project should allow it to advance, despite the challenges that exist in today's financial markets. We see Nuttby as an excellent site with the advantage of an experienced local partner.”

Atlantic Wind Power Corp (AWPC), led by Charles Demond and his team, will stay involved with the project through a service contract with Nova Scotia Power. AWPC sold the development rights for the Nuttby project to EarthFirst in February 2008 and are successful wind developers in Nova Scotia, responsible for the development, construction and operation of the wind farm at Pubnico Point in Yarmouth County.

http://www.nspower.ca/about_nspi/in_the_news/2009/04212009.shtml

Wind farm under review

Feds to conduct environmental assessment on multi-million-dollar project
By JUDY MYRDEN Business Reporter
Tue. Apr 21 - 6:13 AM

A proposed $55-million wind project at Point Tupper is undergoing a federal environmental assessment.

The Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency announced Friday on its website it was starting its review of the proposed 12-wind turbine project by Renewable Energy Services Ltd., and known as the Statia Wind Farm Project.

Company president Larry LeBlanc said the wind farm received provincial environmental approval last October and was expecting the project to undergo a screening by the federal government agency.

A federal assessment is triggered by a project’s size (over two megawatts of capacity), possible environmental effects and whether the developers are seeking federal financial assistance.

The wind farm is expected to produce more than 24 megawatts of electricity and the company is seeking federal financial assistance through an incentive under the ecoENERGY for Renewable Power Program administered by Natural Resources Canada. The incentive could be worth several millions of dollars, said Mr. LeBlanc Monday.

"It’s just a standard type thing," he said.

Mr. LeBlanc said the Halifax wind company is getting ready to clear land at the site and the wind turbines are expected to start arriving this summer from the German manufacturer Enercon.

The firm proposes to construct and operate the wind farm on two land parcels to the east of Port Malcolm Road in Point Tupper, Richmond County.

The wind project is scheduled to be in service by November and all the green electricity generated will be sold to Nova Scotia Power under a power purchase agreement signed last year.

NSP contracted for 247 megawatts of power — enough power for 87,000 homes. When added to its existing wind farms this would account for 10 per cent of the province’s electricity by 2013.

The Point Tupper project was one of six contracts signed by NSP last year. The wind developments are critical to moving Nova Scotia beyond its heavy reliance on dirty, coal-fired electrical generation.

Renewable Energy Services Ltd., along with RMSenergy and Scotian WindFields, are moving ahead but two others will probably not meet this year’s deadline — one is in bankruptcy, the other has pushed its startup back to 2010. A third company with North American headquarters in Chicago remains uncertain.

In its filing with the provincial government, Renewable Energy Services Ltd. says the wind farm will be installed in a large industrial area and its development will not substantially change the ecology of the area. The land is already zoned for heavy industrial use and is currently owned by NuStar Energy, formerly known as Statia Terminals, and Nova Scotia Business Inc.

http://thechronicleherald.ca/Business/1117763.html

Nuttby wind project sold?

I just came across this story from the Truro Daily News from last month. April 15th has come and gone with no further announcement.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

NUTTBY – A new deal involving the sale of the Nuttby wind project could be inked by the middle of April.

Current owner EarthFirst Canada Inc. of Alberta sought creditor protection late last year after running into financial difficulties with other projects elsewhere in the country. After stating that it would not put any more money into the project while it works out its other financial issues, the company has indicated a deal is in the works.

“The only piece of news that I’m aware of, for any kind of consumption, is that EarthFirst has indicated publicly that they’ve entered into a letter of intent with respect to the Nuttby project and they hope to close a deal by April 15,” said Charles Demond, president of Atlantic Wind Power Corp., the company responsible for getting the 45-megawatt Nuttby Mountain project on stream by the end of 2009.

EarthFirst has a 25-year contract with Nova Scotia Power Inc. to supply electricity from a Nuttby wind farm.

In addition to being responsible for managing the construction aspects of the project, Atlantic Power initially promoted the project before selling it to EarthFirst.

When asked if Atlantic Wind Power was the new purchaser in question, Demond declined comment. But he did reiterate his faith in the project as a viable opportunity.

“Our commitment to see a good project there on Nuttby Mountain hasn’t wavered at all through these difficult times,” he said. “ We continue to be keenly interested in the project.”

Truro Daily News

28 March 2009

http://www.wind-watch.org/news/2009/03/28/deal-to-sell-nuttby-wind-project-could-be-done-next-month/

Higher bills for energy savings

NSP green program will cost residential users, not mills

By JUDY MYRDEN Business Reporter, Chronicle Herald

Published: 2009-04-15

Residential customers of Nova Scotia Power will be paying the bulk of the $23-million price tag for programs to cut electricity consumption next year, according to evidence filed with provincial regulators.

Meanwhile, NSP’s two biggest customers — NewPage Port Hawkesbury and Bowater Mersey Paper Co. Ltd. — will pay only $4 total.

NSP argues that its 440,000 residential customers will benefit the most from the energy efficiency programs.

Residential customers are being asked to pay $7.7 million, or almost 34 per cent, of the $23 million through a surcharge which will be added to their power bills, states the utility in evidence filed with the Nova Scotia Utility and Review Board.

Also, retailers in the province such as Wal-Mart are being asked to pay $7.2 million for the programs, or 31.7 per cent of the cost.

The utility is seeking to get these costs back through a surcharge on customers’ bills, but the exact amount has yet to be determined.

The giant pulp and paper companies won’t pay as much for the energy conservation programs because their mills are already energy efficient, Alan Richardson, NSP’s vice-president of commercial operations, said Tuesday.

"There’s no programs for them. We don’t have any programs that they will be using," said Mr. Richardson. "The issue with them is they have huge motors and loads and they’re new. There’s just not a lot you can do."

However, the Affordable Energy Coalition in Halifax says all NSP customers benefit when less electricity is used.

"Not just through direct program services. In the long run . . . we avoid costs of new power plants. Reducing consumption really does help everyone, including the large industrials. Everybody should be contributing to those programs (and) supporting them financially," said Claire MacNeil, a lawyer for the group that represents low-income Nova Scotians.

The Ecology Action Centre has argued that successful programs to reduce energy usage would avoid having to build a $1-billion coal-fired power plant.

Last week, NSP filed its application with the UARB to spend $23 million promoting better use of electricity. A hearing into the application will be held June 3 in Halifax.

NSP’s customers will be footing the bill for the programs, but an independent administrator still has to be appointed by the provincial government to oversee the electricity conservation initiative. The independent administrator is expected to be appointed by June.

The proposed plan expands on programs offered since 2008 and includes the promotion of energy efficient appliances and lighting, electrical conservation retrofits for new and existing homes, energy audits and upgrades for low-income households, and customized projects for small business and industry.

http://thechronicleherald.ca/Business/1116766.html

Wind Turbine Health concerns - CBC report

Yesterday, CBC Radio's morning show "The Current" aired a piece on the increasing number of people who are reporting health complaints upon exposure to wind turbines.

They spoke with people in Ontario, doctors, scientists and a spokesperson from the industry.

It is archived at:

http://www.cbc.ca/thecurrent/2009/200904/20090414.html

NSP looks at ways to be green, save money

By ROGER TAYLOR Business Columnist, Chronicle Herald

TALK ABOUT being in an awkward position — Nova Scotia Power Inc. is now in charge of a conservation program aimed at cutting the use of electricity in Nova Scotia.

Considering that the Emera Inc. subsidiary makes its living by selling electricity, and the more the merrier, the idea of selling less of it seems to go against the grain. But last week, Nova Scotia Power indicated it will spend $23 million on energy conservation programs in 2010. I wonder where the money is coming from?

Vice-president Alan Richardson says adding conservation measures to Nova Scotia Power’s plans will save money for both the company and its customers. For example, conservation may help put off the need to build a new $1-billion generating station.

Readers of this column have been writing to ask why Nova Scotia Power isn’t talking to another Emera subsidiary, Emera Energy, which is acting as broker for 130 megawatts of Churchill Falls hydroelectricity that the government of Newfoundland and Labrador is selling. The readers believe the non-polluting hydro power could be acquired at a good rate and provide an added source of secure energy for the future.

Richardson told me in a phone conversation that acquiring non-polluting power from other sources could not replace conservation or "in-province renewables." He said Nova Scotia Power must meet standards insuring that an increasing amount of the energy produced in this province comes from renewable sources. Buying the electricity from somewhere else is not allowed.

"You can imagine though, regardless of who we would be buying it from, the price (the electricity) would be offered would probably be based on who you could sell it to and at what price. If they can get 10 cents (per kilowatt) or 15 cents or whatever cents — 20 cents in New York, I suppose — it’s unlikely we’re going to be able to buy it for a fraction of that. I guess when you add up all those factors, our conclusion, certainly in the short term, is to ramp up in a big way on conservation as well as in-province renewables."

Despite all that, Richardson says Nova Scotia Power is interested in looking at other "large sources of emission-free energy" that it might be able to get over a long-term contract. One such option is the power coming from Newfoundland and Labrador’s proposed Lower Churchill hydro project.

Meanwhile, Premier Robert Ghiz of Prince Edward Island, in addition to expressing interest in Lower Churchill, has reportedly indicated that P.E.I. is prepared to invest in a proposed second nuclear power generator at Point Lepreau, N.B. Securing a stake in that generator would, in theory, provide P.E.I. with a secure source of electricity for the long term.

From Nova Scotia Power’s perspective, Richardson says, "participating in Point Lepreau II is not a solution for the renewable portfolio standard . . . but longer term, certainly we know we’ll have greenhouse gas limits or targets and certainly nuclear power would be one alternative."

Nova Scotia law prevents nuclear power plants from being built in this province, Richardson says.

"And we wouldn’t be interested in building it anyway, because we would have no expertise in nuclear. But I think the idea that at some point we might keep open the option of a contract for emission-free energy, whatever that might be — which could be nuclear — yeah, I think that’s still an opportunity."

Nova Scotia Power is pursuing many options, Richardson says. In the meantime, it continues to generate about 70 per cent of its electricity by burning coal — which, in case you didn’t know, is neither a source of green energy nor secure for the long term.

http://thechronicleherald.ca/Business/1116591.html

Emu farmers worry about windmills

Noise not good for birds, but couple also concerned about turbines’ effect on health

By BRIAN MEDEL Yarmouth Bureau, Chronicle Herald

GULLIVERS COVE — Emus don’t like noise, Davey VanTassel says.

He and his wife Debi own Ocean Breeze Emu Farm on the Gullivers Cove Road on Digby Neck, and they’re worried that at least one of 20 proposed wind turbines to be erected this year may be as close as 850 metres to their farm.

The noise and vibration from heavy equipment has been known to frighten emus to death, Debi VanTassel said in a recent interview. She wonders what living near a wind turbine will be like.

Ms. VanTassel has another worry, though. Her husband is an epileptic who may have grand mal seizures.

They can’t have wallpaper in their home because the patterns could seem to come alive and bother Mr. VanTassel. And the couple won’t go to a dance where a strobe light may be used.

So the vibration and strobe effect caused by the blades of a large wind turbine spinning in front of the sun are definite worries.

"I will not put Davey’s life on the line for a windmill," Ms. VanTassel told a representative of the wind farm company during a public meeting March 24 in the Digby municipal council chambers.

"The light flickering through a turbine is adjustable," said David Patterson, a project developer with SkyPower Corp. of Ontario

Scotian Windfields Inc. plans to operate the Digby Wind Park in partnership with SkyPower.

The partners revealed during an announcement last May that they’d like to erect 20 turbines with a total of 30 megawatts of output.

Nova Scotia Power has given them a 20-year contract and they’d like to be up and running by this fall.

Digby municipal council organized the March 24 meeting when more than 30 Digby Neck residents asked for it.

Ms. VanTassel said her husband needs lots of rest to ward off seizures. She and others wondered how loud the wind turbines will be. Some said they’ll be living as close as 600 metres to a turbine, according to preliminary planning maps.

Of the 32 residents who asked for the meeting, 25 said they’ll have a turbine closer than a kilometre to their homes.

"They’re not addressing the health issue," said Judy VanTassel, Davey’s mother.

She said from what she’s read, 2.4 kilometres would seem to be a safer setback.

"Put the windmills back away from homes," she said.

"I would like to see these moved to a place where they will not hurt people," said her daughter-in-law, Debi. "Our concern is just please move them back far enough that it’s not going to affect our health or our way of life."

On Digby Neck, sounds bounce and echo throughout the little gully where the Ocean Breeze Emu Farm is located. The sounds come from the Bay of Fundy’s rocky outcrops and the steep hillsides.

The VanTassels lost five emus this winter — five adult birds were found dead in their pens. That’s unheard of, Ms. VanTassel said.

They think a test windmill on a nearby ridge is driving coyotes down from the top.

"We’ve had them in our yard," she said. "They’ve just become a pest."

Her husband agreed.

"We’ve never had problems with coyotes like we’ve had this winter," Mr. VanTassel said.

The emus were kept inside all winter and were just let out in pens in March.

"We sell emu oil, emu eggs," Ms. VanTassel said. "We sell the meat."

Now the couple are worried about more of the big birds dying.

Digby municipal council recently unveiled a proposed wind turbine bylaw. Smaller domestic turbines for personal use must be kept a minimum distance from the nearest home — a distance equal to 1.5 times the height of the turbine — and not on the same property.

But the bylaw does not list any setback distances for large commercial turbines.

"There are no specific setbacks because the process for utility-scale (turbines) is through a development agreement," Digby’s chief administrative officer, Linda Fraser, said in a previous interview.

Councillors look at each development proposal on its own merit, she said.

Many residents would like to know more about the wind farm development and how things are progressing.

"They tell us nothing," Ms. VanTassel said.

http://thechronicleherald.ca/Front/1116422.html

Energy Strategy and Climate Change Action Plan

As part of the process to produce Provincial Energy Strategy and Climate Change Action Plan, Nova Scotia Department of Energy ran workshops in all parts of the Province in late '07 and early '08. The facilitator was Bob Fournier of Dalhousie University. These workshops ran for a couple of hours and as a follow-up, those attending were asked to send in their comments or suggestions.

I had meant to post this at that time. It is now reproduced below. Some of these suggestions have been addressed already and I have certainly thought of a few more since.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

To: Minister Hurlburt
Department of Energy

I was pleased to be able to attend the Amherst meeting December 17th. I was very impressed with the depth of knowledge of participants and was particularly impressed with Bob Fournier's handling of the meeting.

Following are a few of my thoughts that may be of interest or use as input towards the government's future energy strategy.

Responsible use and siting of renewable energy projects
We certainly need to produce energy to meet our needs from as green as sources can supply. We must not however, allow ourselves to be blindsided by energy companies who promise us the earth and outputs that are not possible nor feasible. Meanwhile, we have to make whatever investment it takes to clean up the fossil fuel power stations already in existence. The longer we wait to do this, the more expensive it will become to eventually clean up our act.

For as long as Nova Scotia Power Inc. (NSPI) remains a monopoly and continues to keep bidding for contracts competitive; short-cuts, rhetoric and spin will be much that we will see from renewable energy companies. NSPI must be encouraged or helped to improve infrastructure, so that (for example) wind energy project sites that may be perfect in all respects except availability of transmission lines can go ahead of other, less well sited projects.

Smaller companies selling their power locally should be encouraged, although still following all the rules as set out by Dept Environment and Labour in their Environmental Assessments (EA).

EAs for public review need to be better publicised and more time given to the public to respond.

All developments should automatically be also assessed by Departments for Energy, Tourism, Economic Development, Municipal Affairs and Natural Resources. There may be occasions where Departments of Aboriginal Affairs, Agriculture and Aquaculture should be involved too. Currently, there is the potential for developments meeting criteria for one Department to be at loggerheads with those of another. For example, a wind energy project may meet Dept of Energy criteria, but if located in a tourist or residentially developing area, may not fit in with what Depts of Tourism or Economic Development plan or require.

Crops grown for biofuels should not be allowed to displace essential food/fodder crops to the point that they then have to be imported.

Nova Scotia should be assured of being able to supply all its required energy before it is allowed to be sold elsewhere.

Conservation and Efficiency
As much as we need to use cleaner energy, we need to use all energy and resources efficiently. As a Nova Scotian who grew up in the UK, I notice the appalling waste in our (North American) society and something has to me done to discourage such waste.

We could have 100% renewable energy, but as long as our demand for power stays at current levels, we will continue to use resources that could have been otherwise saved for when really needed.

Germany has plugged the countryside full of turbines, producing about 30% of required power with surplus to sell off to neighbouring countries, but demand has increased. There is no room nor tolerance for more turbines - so what are they supposed to do now? Let's not get ourselves into the same mess. Let's reduce consumption - not just produce that power from green sources.

Conservation of energy and resources has to be stressed as imperative when addressing reduction of greenhouse gases (GHGs).

This can be done by education and the Provincial government showing a good example. I believe the carrot works better than the stick and would like to see incentives used before relying on fines and prosecution for infringements.

Use all media to educate the public. This can be as simple as user-friendly five minute sections on the local TV news of ways electricity, water, food and other resources can be conserved or reused. Keep in mind that not everyone has internet access.

Make it easier to shop locally. We need to encourage people to shop locally, using less gasoline travelling to the nearest town, and supporting local producers and businesses.

Local producers need help to market their product locally. We should not be importing the same product that is also grown/produced right here in Nova Scotia. Bulk buying by (eg) Sobeys/Atlantic Superstore currently enables this. People are looking for more local food. Look how many people are now talking about the "100 mile diet"!

Make it easier to upgrade housing. Those who need to save money the most are often the same people who also need to upgrade their insulation, windows etc and can afford this least. Even the 50% cost for an energy audit is too much for many low income households.

Energy audits should be completed for all industry - from mines, to manufacturers, to farms to logging - energy is being wasted in ways that many people don't even realise.

Training to perform these audits needs to be introduced into community colleges or schools as soon as possible.

Make it easier to recycle. More drop off depots. Bulk pick-up by the Municipality more frequently.

Make it easier to re-use. For a while, Cumberland County local solid waste company had a ban on anyone removing items from the land fill. So much for re-using perfectly good, if old or a little worn item!

Make it easier to compost. Encourage more community compost drop off areas.

Make it easier for food stores to send food they currently throw away to food banks etc.

Many of these changes can be done at the Municipal level. However, it should be as uniform across the Province as possible. This saves confusion and allows for consolidation of resources when collecting items etc. Currently, for example, it seems as if there are as many different rules concerning garbage collection as there are Municipal regions!!

Wood burning appliances, properly installed and maintained use a renewable resource for heat, but these systems get wound up in so much red tape (particularly with insurance companies) that people find they cannot deal with the hassle and convert to oil/gas/electricity.

There should be a mechanism whereby any existing system or appliance can be inspected and recertified on a case-by-case basis. Every time an unnecessary conversion is performed or appliance replaced, resources are being used and wasted. Energy efficiency would, however, be integral to this recertification.

NSPI needs to change some of it's policies to encourage reduction of power use. For example, I am told by a customer, that it is currently cheaper to leave power pole mounted yard lights on all year than to turn them off when only required seasonally. NSPI is in the business of selling power. I have no sensible suggestions as to how to encourage NSPI to sell less of it's product!

Preparation for future climate change
Being almost completely surrounded by water, one of our concerns as Nova Scotians will be higher water levels and impact by increasingly severe winter storms.

Everyone wants to have their water views and access, but this should now be curtailed somewhat. All beaches to the high tide mark are commonly owned. The high tide mark is getting higher and we should change the rules to set back any development much further. I am told that in Costa Rica, the shore and the land 100' above the high tide mark are commonly owned. I would suggest the Government look at this model - perhaps
pushing that distance back even further, if required. This will preserve from property damage in future tidal surges or severe storms. It will also allow more access/wider vistas to the general public, and allow for more protection of coastal habitat for wildlife. Current property owners would have to be grandfathered in - or helped defray the cost if they want to physically move their home/cottage away from the shore.

Increased setbacks from other waterways should be looked at too.

Increased education levels for the general public and involvement in local EMO groups.

As temperatures increase, the demand for air conditioning will increase. Energy efficient or alternative mechanisms should be encouraged.

http://www.gov.ns.ca/energy/resources/spps/energy-strategy/submissions/Jan112008LisaBetts.pdf

Wind power is a complete disaster

Michael J. Trebilcock, Financial Post

Published: Thursday, April 09, 2009

There is no evidence that industrial wind power is likely to have a significant impact on carbon emissions. The European experience is instructive. Denmark, the world’s most wind-intensive nation, with more than 6,000 turbines generating 19% of its electricity, has yet to close a single fossil-fuel plant. It requires 50% more coal-generated electricity to cover wind power’s unpredictability, and pollution and carbon dioxide emissions have risen (by 36% in 2006 alone).

Flemming Nissen, the head of development at West Danish generating company ELSAM (one of Denmark’s largest energy utilities) tells us that “wind turbines do not reduce carbon dioxide emissions.” The German experience is no different. Der Spiegel reports that “Germany’s CO2 emissions haven’t been reduced by even a single gram,” and additional coal- and gas-fired plants have been constructed to ensure reliable delivery.

Indeed, recent academic research shows that wind power may actually increase greenhouse gas emissions in some cases, depending on the carbon-intensity of back-up generation required because of its intermittent character. On the negative side of the environmental ledger are adverse impacts of industrial wind turbines on birdlife and other forms of wildlife, farm animals, wetlands and viewsheds.

Industrial wind power is not a viable economic alternative to other energy conservation options. Again, the Danish experience is instructive. Its electricity generation costs are the highest in Europe (15¢/kwh compared to Ontario’s current rate of about 6¢). Niels Gram of the Danish Federation of Industries says, “windmills are a mistake and economically make no sense.” Aase Madsen , the Chair of Energy Policy in the Danish Parliament, calls it “a terribly expensive disaster.”

The U.S. Energy Information Administration reported in 2008, on a dollar per MWh basis, the U.S. government subsidizes wind at $23.34 — compared to reliable energy sources: natural gas at 25¢; coal at 44¢; hydro at 67¢; and nuclear at $1.59, leading to what some U.S. commentators call “a huge corporate welfare feeding frenzy.” The Wall Street Journal advises that “wind generation is the prime example of what can go wrong when the government decides to pick winners.”

The Economist magazine notes in a recent editorial, “Wasting Money on Climate Change,” that each tonne of emissions avoided due to subsidies to renewable energy such as wind power would cost somewhere between $69 and $137, whereas under a cap-and-trade scheme the price would be less than $15.

Either a carbon tax or a cap-and-trade system creates incentives for consumers and producers on a myriad of margins to reduce energy use and emissions that, as these numbers show, completely overwhelm subsidies to renewables in terms of cost effectiveness.

The Ontario Power Authority advises that wind producers will be paid 13.5¢/kwh (more than twice what consumers are currently paying), even without accounting for the additional costs of interconnection, transmission and back-up generation. As the European experience confirms, this will inevitably lead to a dramatic increase in electricity costs with consequent detrimental effects on business and employment. >From this perspective, the government’s promise of 55,000 new jobs is a cruel delusion.

A recent detailed analysis (focusing mainly on Spain) finds that for every job created by state-funded support of renewables, particularly wind energy, 2.2 jobs are lost. Each wind industry job created cost almost $2-million in subsidies. Why will the Ontario experience be different?

In debates over climate change, and in particular subsidies to renewable energy, there are two kinds of green. First there are some environmental greens who view the problem as so urgent that all measures that may have some impact on greenhouse gas emissions, whatever their cost or their impact on the economy and employment, should be undertaken immediately.

Then there are the fiscal greens, who, being cool to carbon taxes and cap-and-trade systems that make polluters pay, favour massive public subsidies to themselves for renewable energy projects, whatever their relative impact on greenhouse gas emissions. These two groups are motivated by different kinds of green. The only point of convergence between them is their support for massive subsidies to renewable energy (such as wind turbines).

This unholy alliance of these two kinds of greens (doomsdayers and rent seekers) makes for very effective, if opportunistic, politics (as reflected in the Ontario government’s Green Energy Act), just as it makes for lousy public policy: Politicians attempt to pick winners at our expense in a fast-moving technological landscape, instead of creating a socially efficient set of incentives to which we can all respond.

Michael J. Trebilcock is Professor of Law and Economics, University of Toronto. These comments were excerpted from a submission last night (April 8th) to the Ontario government’s legislative committee On Bill 150.

http://www.financialpost.com/story.html?id=1479461&p=1

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

From the Canada Council for the Arts biography when Michael Trebilcock was awarded the 1998 Canada Council for the Arts Molson Prize in the Social Sciences and Humanities:



Michael J. Trebilcock was born in New Zealand. He received a Bachelor of Laws degree from the University of Canterbury and a Master of Laws from the University of Adelaide. Professor Trebilcock began his career in New Zealand, then emigrated to Canada and continued to build a long, productive and distinguished career, eventually becoming known as the "father of law and economics in Canada."

Among his numerous contributions, Professor Trebilcock founded and is currently director of the University of Toronto Law School's Programme in Law and Economics, which is recognized internationally as one of the finest in the world. His creative and innovative use of economic analysis in the study of law and legal institutions is at the forefront of research on the international scene. He has published 20 books and written numerous academic articles, chapters and reports, including seminal works on tax policy, corporate law, consumer protection policy, contract theory, accident law, international trade law and policy, competition policy and law, institutions and development.

Professor Trebilcock is a preeminent scholarly contributor at the leading edge of law reform in Canada. He has produced landmark studies for numerous commissions and task forces including the Ontario Law Reform Commission, the Economic Council of Canada, the Macdonald Royal Commission and the Federal-Provincial Task Force on Malpractice Liability.

Professor Trebilcock has received many awards and distinctions including appointment as a Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada in 1987. In 1990 he was awarded the prestigious Joint Canadian Law Teachers Association and Law Reform Commission of Canada Award for outstanding contributions to legal research and law reform. The same year, he was appointed University Professor, the University of Toronto's highest honour, and in 1996 he received the University's Alumni Association's Faculty Award, its highest award for excellence in research, teaching and community service.

http://www.canadacouncil.ca/news/releases/1999/gr127243840628281250.htm

Wind worries hit NSP

By ROGER TAYLOR Business Columnist, Chronicle Herald

IT MIGHT surprise some people to hear a top government bureaucrat admit that Nova Scotia’s electricity grid couldn’t cope with the introduction of many wind energy projects, but it really shouldn’t.

That’s because the government and Nova Scotia Power have been talking about upgrading the province’s electricity grid since at least last fall.

Alison Scott, Nova Scotia’s deputy minister of energy, told a meeting of the legislature’s standing committee on economic development Tuesday that connecting many small-scale renewable energy projects onto the grid is too expensive.

Electricity generated by wind is too intermittent to be reliable and therefore needs a more secure source of energy as a backstop for times when the wind stops blowing.

A critic of Nova Scotia’s energy policy, Dalhousie University professor Larry Hughes, says he views Scott’s statement before the committee as finally an admission that grand attempts by government to introduce large amounts of wind energy into the system aren’t going to work as planned.

Hughes leads the energy research group at Dalhousie’s department of electrical and computer engineering. He says Nova Scotia has been late addressing climate change and now it is missing the boat on energy security, "which is barrelling down the track at us."

Hughes told me that employing wind power "the way they’re talking about it isn’t going to work in Nova Scotia. And it’s really for two reasons: one is supply, the other is infrastructure."

Because of that, he says, it is unlikely that Nova Scotia will be able to achieve the goal of generating 580 megawatts of electricity by wind turbines by government’s 2013 deadline.

The normal backstop for wind energy would be generators powered by natural gas, which could quickly respond to a downturn in wind production, but he doubts there will be enough gas from Sable or Deep Panuke to meet that need.

That means there is a growing requirement for a new source of natural gas and that means removing the moratorium on drilling for gas on the rich Georges Bank fishing ground.

Even if significant amounts of natural gas are found on Georges Bank, it isn’t likely to become available to Nova Scotia for many years.

As an alternative, there is the potential of adding power generated by Newfoundland and Labrador’s Lower Churchill hydro electric project.

Hughes says it could act as a backstop for wind, but it would be optimistic to expect that project will be able to begin generating electricity by 2015.

Nova Scotia’s energy security issue may come to a head sooner rather than later.

"If we’re going to look at energy security, we’re going to have to look at the electricity side . . . but transportation and heating are the two major energy demands in this province and the province isn’t addressing those," Mr. Hughes says.

More than 80 per cent of Nova Scotia’s sources of energy are imported, which could put Nova Scotia in deep trouble.

"What are they going to do and where is the energy going to come from?" asks Hughes.

Rather than pushing the intermittent power generated by wind onto the grid, he says, there are better ways to use that energy source by using it for space heating and transportation.

"If we use storage heaters, intermittent electricity works fine, and if we use batteries for automobiles, intermittent electricity works fine, because both of those could be charged intermittently. . . . We could take advantage of the wind if we looked at it that way."

Hughes says he has been proven correct on the climate change issue and he’s convinced he’s right about energy security, too.

Is anyone in government listening?

http://thechronicleherald.ca/Business/1115497.html

Wind energy capacity near maximum

Grid can’t handle load, committee told

By BILL POWER Business Reporter, Chronicle Herald

It could be a long time before more wind turbines begin to occupy significant space in Nova Scotia skylines.

The government’s standing committee on economic development heard Tuesday that there are serious constraints to the amount of renewable energy the province’s energy grid can handle — especially when it comes to wind.

"We are constrained technically by the amount of renewable energy that we can safely integrate into the existing system without significant enhancements," said Alison Scott, deputy minister of energy .

She also rejected the rush toward de-regulation that is occurring in Ontario and Alberta, and said resulting feed-in tariffs in these jurisdictions continue to drive up the price of electricity for consumers in these areas.

"Our scan of the situation in Alberta and Ontario shows us deregulation led to price hikes, which resulted in government subsidies to consumers," she told members of the legislative committee.

Despite talk about renewable energy and the highly-anticipated role of wind power as the province implements its green energy plan, the reality is the energy grid will basically reach its maximum load by 2013, said the deputy minister of energy. "We have an operational challenge in integrating large amounts of wind power in Nova Scotia," said Ms. Scott.

Besides the inability of the existing energy grid to handle increased loads, there is a problem with wind power relating to backstopping, which is the ability of an energy system to quickly respond when wind-powered feeds fail due to weather conditions.

She suggested it would make little sense for ratepayers for the government to encourage more expensive feeds from renewable energy sources without having the capacity to provide the required backstopping.

Unlike the stilted appearance two weeks ago of Deputy Finance Minister Vicki Harnish, the economic development committee received a high-amperage presentation from the top bureaucrat at the energy department.

Ms. Scott said under questioning that the energy department is looking at ways of helping some viable renewable energy projects move ahead, but added that since the government was looking at the issue she was limited in what she could say.

"What we do know is that there are challenges to any options, including using existing programs such as the Industrial Expansion Fund," she said.

Last month, Energy Minister Berry Barnet said the government will review rules that prevent Nova Scotia Power from investing in wind power companies.

Some committee members said this move will handicap independent energy producers, who would have to compete with the utility on renewable energy projects if the restriction against NSP is removed.

http://thechronicleherald.ca/Business/1115610.html