NDP eases green rules

Nova Scotia Power allowed to own stake in wind farm to meet targets for clean energy

By JUDY MYRDEN Business Reporter

Published: 2009-09-28

The Dexter government is making it easier for Nova Scotia Power to achieve its targets for generating clean energy next year.

The province now says the utility can own a minority stake in a wind farm and use the green energy the farm generates to meet the government’s 2010 renewable energy targets.

This is a step away from the original legislation. Introduced in January 2007, it ordered the power company to increase generation from independent produces to five per cent by 2010 or face a fine of $500,000 a day.

The issue recently came to light when the power company applied to government regulators for permission to develop the $120-million Nuttby wind farm project. In that application they also asked the regulators if it was OK to sell 51 per cent of the wind farm so that it could meet the 2010 independent, green energy target.

The request came at a time when collapsing financial markets threatened to scuttle the various independent wind turbine projects.

In its application, the utility included a one-page letter from Scott McCoombs — the acting director of energy markets for the provincial Energy Department — who gave them the OK.

"I can advise you that it is my opinion, as administrator, that the definition of ‘independent power producers’ does not restrict an electric utility from having a minority equity holding in an independent power producer," Mr. McCoombs wrote in a letter to a utility vice-president on May 29.

Energy Department spokesman Ross McLaren confirmed that remains the government’s position.

That seems to contradict the NDP’s original stand.

Last April, when the power company announced it was gobbling up Nuttby, one of the province’s independent power projects, NDP Leader Darrell Dexter slammed the government for potentially changing the rules for the utility and entrenching its monopoly.

Nova Scotia Power filed its application, to develop the 22-wind-turbine farm at Nuttby Mountain, Colchester County, earlier this month with the Nova Scotia Utility and Review Board.

Located about 20 kilometres north of Truro, the project would include purchasing and erecting the turbines, constructing a new substation and transmission lines.

"Recognizing that the renewable energy requirements are escalating over the next six years, it will serve NSP customers best if compliance with these requirements is achieved in a planned fashion," the utility said in its application.

"Delay in this regard or planning ‘just-in-construction’ may result in higher costs for customers and increased probability of failing to meet the renewable energy standard requirements for the company."

The power company wants the board to approve the project by Dec. 1.

Before the board makes a decision on the wind farm application, it is requesting written comment from parties interested in the project by Nov. 3.

In the meantime, the board has given permission for the power company to order the turbines and begin construction.

Nova Scotia Power’s vice-president of sustainability Robin McAdam said the utility does not have any potential buyers for the wind farm and is focusing on getting the energy project constructed.

"The objective is to make it compliant," said Mr. McAdam last week at the unveiling of the new tidal technology it is testing in the Bay of Fundy with its partner OpenHydro.

He was reluctant to talk any further about the project.

"We really want to focus on the OpenHydro event today," he said.

An economic analysis in its application with the Utility and Review Board shows the power company’s plan for the Nuttby wind farm will be 13 per cent cheaper to operate than EarthFirst Canada Inc.’s original design.

"This application provides a positive net present value to customers of $7.3 million," the utility said in its application to the board.

In addition to the Nuttby Mountain project, two other wind projects are underway in Nova Scotia by independent power producers.

RMSenergy of Westville is building a 51-megawatt farm on Dalhousie Mountain in Pictou County and will sell the electricity to NSP. At Maryvale, north of Antigonish, an additional six megawatts of independently produced wind power will be online by the end of this year.

http://thechronicleherald.ca/Business/1144768.html

Nuttby Mountain project progresses

NSP can buy 22 wind turbines
But no OK yet for $120m wind farm

By JUDY MYRDEN Business Reporter
Wed. Sep 16 - 4:46 AM

Nova Scotia Power was given the go-ahead Tuesday to purchase 22 wind turbines even though its regulator hasn’t approved the $120-million wind farm where they would be used.

The Nova Scotia Utility and Review Board said it has "no objection" to the power company purchasing the wind turbines, but stressed their decision should not be considered by the utility, in any way, as approval of the proposed Colchester County wind farm.

The board released the decision just four days after the power company asked for immediate approval to purchase the turbines.

"Nova Scotia Power has in the past undertaken expenditures . . . at shareholder risk and so there is precedent for proceeding in this manner," the board said.

The utility filed its application to develop a 45-megawatt project at Nuttby Mountain, Colchester County, with the board on Friday. It would begin operation late next year.

Located about 20 kilometres north of Truro, the project would include purchasing and erecting 22 turbines rated at 2.05 megawatts each, construction of a new substation and transmission lines.

The power company asked the board to approve the project by Dec. 1 and wanted immediate approval to proceed with project construction, which included ordering the turbines.

Before the board makes a decision on the wind farm, it is requesting written comment from parties interested in the project by Nov. 3, 2009.

In April, the utility purchased the development rights for Nuttby Mountain from the financially troubled EarthFirst Canada Inc. of Calgary.

The power company said its design for the Nuttby Mountain wind farm will generate electricity at a cost that is more than 10 per cent lower than what customers would have paid through the contract with EarthFirst.

The turbines will produce enough energy to power approximately 15,000 homes. The project has the potential to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by more than 100,000 tonnes annually.

"The Nuttby Mountain project responds in a significant way to our customers’ desire for more clean energy," Robin McAdam, NSP vice-president of sustainability, said in a news release.

In addition to the Nuttby Mountain project, two other wind projects are underway in Nova Scotia by independent power producers.

RMSenergy of Westville is building a 51-megawatt farm on Dalhousie Mountain in Pictou County and will sell the electricity to Nova Scotia Power.

At Maryvale, north of Antigonish, an additional six megawatts of independently produced wind power will be online by the end of this year.

http://thechronicleherald.ca/Business/1142706.html

Maine Medical Association adopts resolution on wind energy and public health

Summary:

The Maine Medical Association adopted this important resolution regarding wind energy development and public health at its September 12, 2009 meeting.

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Maine Medical Association

Resolution RE: Wind Energy and Public Health

WHEREAS, proposals to locate and build wind energy facilities in the State have at times proven controversial, due to concerns regarding potential effects of such facilities on the public health, and

WHEREAS, the trade off between the public good of generating electricity and the adverse health effects warrant appropriate evidence-based scientific research, and

WHEREAS, assessing the potential health impact of wind turbines has been difficult to measure but if present would be of significant concern. This is especially apparent regarding the noise level and other noise characteristics specific to industrial wind turbines, and

WHEREAS, there is a need for modification of the State's regulatory process for siting wind energy developments to reduce the potential for controversy regarding siting of grid-scale wind energy development and to address health controversy with regulatory changes to include, but not limited to:

a) Refining certain procedures of the Maine Department of Environmental Protection and the Maine Land Use Regulation Commission to reflect scientific evidence regarding potential health effects, and to further explore such potential health effects;

b) Judging the effects of wind energy development on potential public health by avoiding unreasonable noise and shadow flicker effects, with development setbacks and incorporating upto date noise regulations specific for industrial wind turbines adequate to protect public health and safety.

Therefore be it resolved that the Maine Medical Association work with health organizations and regulatory agencies to provide scientific information of known medical consequences of wind development in order to help safeguard human health and the environment.

AND BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Maine Medical Association 1) work with other stakeholders to encourage performance of studies on health effects of wind turbine generation by independent qualified researchers at qualified research institutions; 2) ensure that physicians and patients alike are informed of evidence-based research results.

http://www.windaction.org/documents/23095

NSPI getting further into the wind energy business?

Nova Scotia Power Incorporated looks to be investing further into the wind energy generating business (see Herald stories copied below). Like so many vultures, NSPI is cleaning up the remnants of wind energy projects that have fallen by the wayside during this recent economic crisis.

The conditions of the contracts with NSPI that these projects are required to meet make them difficult to be financially successful in the first place. The Recession, and ensuing collapse of some of the financial backers, put the final nails in the coffins. These conditions make these projects profitable only to NSPI and for any developers who can hang on to a contract as project managers.

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NSP throws projects a lifeline

Published: 2009-09-11

Utility would buy stakes in four stalled wind power developments

By JUDY MYRDEN Business Reporter

Nova Scotia Power wants to kick-start several stalled wind power developments by buying a minority stake in them.

"We’re trying to get all of the projects that aren’t moving ahead as quickly as they would like, to get going," Robin Mc-Adam, the power company’s vice-president of sustainability, told reporters Thursday outside a meeting about the provincial government’s new targets for using energy from renewable sources.

Nova Scotia Power signed six long-term wind energy agreements last year but the collapse of the credit markets has put the future of four of them in jeopardy.

Mr. McAdam said it’s too early to say whether any of the developers will take the company up on its offer.

The two projects that are proceeding are the $12-million Maryvale wind turbine development in Antigonish County and RMSenergy’s plan to connect 34 turbines in the Cobequid Range 25 kilometres west of New Glasgow.

How much Nova Scotia Power would spend on moving the other four projects forward has yet to be determined, Mr. McAdam said.

"That’s going to depend on how many people are interested and how all that goes," he said. "It’s too early to know how much money will be involved."

The company’s investment would be recovered through customers’ power rates, and that would require regulatory approval, Mr. McAdam said.

"I think people understand how fundamental the economic turmoil has been that we’ve gone through," he said. "I think the public would like to see the projects going ahead. We know our customers want more renewables, so we’re trying to respond to that customer request."

Earlier this year, Nova Scotia Power gobbled up one of the province’s troubled independent wind power projects.

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.

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

Last year, EarthFirst signed a 25-year agreement with Nova Scotia Power to sell wind-generated electricity to the power company.

Mr. MacAdam said work is proceeding on the project, with the regulatory filings to be made later this month.

Federal environmental approval, which would take advantage of financial incentives worth million of dollars for renewable energy projects, is underway, Mr. McAdam said.

The Nuttby wind farm would have a capacity of 45 megawatts and produce enough electricity to power about 15,000 homes. The original proposal included up to 22 wind turbines but the recent plan has 15 larger turbines.

New targets will have the province generating one-quarter of its electricity from renewable sources by 2015.

The target could rise to as high as 40 per cent by 2020.

Nova Scotia Power now generates 10 to 12 per cent of its electricity from renewable sources.

http://thechronicleherald.ca/Business/1141930.html

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NSP seeks OK for 22 Nuttby turbines

With URB approval, company will spend $120 million on Pictou County wind farm
By JUDY MYRDEN Business Reporter
Sat. Sep 12 - 4:46 AM

Nova Scotia Power is seeking regulatory approval to spend $120 million to construct a 22-turbine wind farm in Pictou County.

The utility filed its application Friday with the Utility and Review Board to develop the 45-megawatt project at Nuttby Mountain, Colchester County. It would begin operation late next year.

"The Nuttby Mountain project responds in a significant way to our customers’ desire for more clean energy," said Robin McAdam, NSP vice-president of sustainability, in a news release Friday.

"We are excited about being able to undertake this development and demonstrate our commitment to meeting government targets and public expectations regarding renewable energy."

NSP is also asking the board to give the green light for the project by Dec. 1, and wants immediate approval to proceed with project construction, which includes ordering turbines.

In addition to the Nuttby Mountain project, two other wind projects are underway in Nova Scotia by independent power producers.

RMSenergy of Westville is building a 51-megawatt farm on Dalhousie Mountain in Pictou County, and will sell the electricity to NSP. At Maryvale, north of Antigonish, an additional six megawatts of independently produced wind power will be online by the end of this year.

The wind developments are critical to moving Nova Scotia beyond its heavy reliance on dirty, coal-fired electrical generation.

The Nuttby Mountain project, about 20 kilometres north of Truro, would include purchasing and erecting 22 turbines rated at 2.05 megawatts each, construction of a new substation, and transmission interconnection.

The regulatory filing comes a day after Mr. McAdam said the utility is willing to buy a minority stake in three delayed wind projects that were scheduled to start producing wind generated electricity by the end of this year.

Mr. McAdam said it was too early to know if any of the companies would take the utility up on its offer.

In April, NSP purchased the development rights for Nuttby Mountain from the financially troubled EarthFirst Canada Inc. of Calgary.

NSP says the design for the Nuttby Mountain farm will generate electricity at a cost that is more than 10 per cent lower than what customers would have paid through the contract with EarthFirst.

The turbines will produce enough energy to power approximately 15,000 homes. The project has the potential to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by more than 100,000 tonnes annually.

http://thechronicleherald.ca/Business/1142136.html

Wind Farms: the Death of Britain

Originally found in UK's (admittedly very Conservative newspaper) The Daily Telegraph from July 16th from James Delingpole's blog www.jamesdelingpole.com.

I have used the Telegraph link (below) for the sake of the 109 following comments. Very interesting to see what other counties are going through and there are some useful links to other sites in the comments. I am going to look more at the Aeolian Tones idea.

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Wind Farms: the death of Britain

“How the hell did we let that happen?” we often ask ourselves when we look at the brutalist monstrosity tower blocks which we allowed to blight our towns in the sixties. In a few decades’ time we’re going to be asking exactly the same question about the 300 foot wind turbines ruining what’s left of Britain’s wilderness.

And a bit like the perpetrators of terrible sixties architecture now, no one’s going to be able to come up with a satisfactory answer because, quite simply, there isn’t one: wind turbines are a bad idea in almost every way imaginable.

They don’t work when there’s no wind.

They don’t work when it’s too windy.

They produce so little power - and so unreliably and erratically - that even if you put one on every hill top in Britain you’d still need to rely on nuclear, coal and gas-generated electricity for your main source of energy.

They chew up flying wildlife and scare horses.

They produce a subsonic hum which drives you mad if you’re downwind of them.

They turn pristine landscape into Teletubby-style horror visions.

They destroy property values.

They steal light.

They’re visible for miles around so that just when you’re thinking you’ve got away from it all you’re reminded of man’s grim presence by the whirling white shapes on the horizon.

They’re environmentally damaging: their massive concrete bases alone requiring enough concrete to fill two Olympic-size swimming pools; then there’s the access roads that have to be built through the unspoilt landscape to put them up in the first place.

They’re twice as expensive as conventionally-produced electricity.

They make you feel a bit queasy, especially the three-bladed ones whose asymmetry is disturbing.

To supply the equivalent output of one nuclear power station you’d need a wind farm the size of Greater Manchester.

When I wrote all this a couple of years ago in How To Be Right, my polemical A to Z of everything wrong with Blair’s and Brown’s Britain, I did think I was erring slightly towards the Dystopian.

The “wind turbines” entry was more of a warning of the awful things that could go wrong if the more extreme eco-nutters got their way and the government completely lost its head. Not even in my darkest moments did I imagine that this nightmare vision would come true.

Why? Well, apart from anything else, because the British landscape is our greatest asset, the thing that makes so proud to have been born here and to live here. In July, I’ll be walking with my family in the near-deserted hills of the Welsh Borders; in late August, I’ll be in Scotland wandering amid the purple heather of the Highlands; in October, the coastal path round Prawle Point and Bolt Head. I love swimming in burns, rock pools, rivers, beneath waterfalls, in the sea off South Dorset. I count it one of my greatest privileges to have been hunting over the stone walls of the Cotswolds and the steep valleys of Exmoor. Few things make me happier or more glad to be alive than the joy that so much of our countryside remains so pristine and stunningly beautiful.

And now, in the name of environmentalism, to serve a cause - CO2 reduction - that will not make the blindest bit of difference to global climate, our Government is destroy this landscape.

Well I suppose they would. They’re Labour and they’ve never really understood the country in the way the Conservatives do.

Or rather, the way the Conservatives did. For, it would seem judging from the comments of Tory environment spokesman Greg Clark that the Conservatives now hate our countryside just as much as Labour does.

To me, it quite beggars belief that a party led by an ex-hunting man representing as beautiful a rural seat as Witney should yet fail to take a stand on this, the gravest environmental threat to Britain in our lifetime. Wind farms are a disaster and an act of lunacy. If the Tories refuse to take a stand against them, they most definitely do not deserve our vote.

http://blogs.telegraph.co.uk/news/jamesdelingpole/100003510/wind-farms-the-death-of-britain/