NSP’s bright idea will cost you

Company to charge $2 more a month to fund conservation programs
By JUDY MYRDEN Business Reporter
Sat. Feb 27 - 4:53 AM

NOVA SCOTIANS will have to dig deeper in their pocketbooks to pay their power bills with the rollout of almost $42 million in energy conservation programs in 2011, according to a proposed plan released by Nova Scotia Power on Friday.

Under the proposal, the company’s 440,000 residential customers will pay $4 a month to the fund the programs, an increase of $2 per month, said Alan Richardson, vice-president of Nova Scotia Power’s customer service.

The utility is seeking approval of its proposal from the Nova Scotia Utility and Review Board. If successful, Nova Scotia Power’s energy conservation budget would increase to $41.9 million next year from $22.6 million in 2010.

"The whole plan since the beginning was to ramp up the amount of energy conservation and efficiency that we’re doing," Richardson said. "The reason that is a good idea is because, along with renewable (energy), it’s the most cost effective way to meet our efficiency needs."

Richardson said spending nearly $42 million on conservation programs would translate into 158.5 million kilowatt hours of energy savings per year.

The utility also released the results from the programs that helped consumers save electricity in 2008 and 2009.

"We actually exceeded the energy savings targets that we set for ourselves for that 18 months of programming," Richardson said.

The utility’s aim was to save 66 million kilowatt hours, but it actually saved 85 million kilowatt hours as a result of the conservation programs — enough to power 9,500 homes, he said.

"Nova Scotians and businesses are stepping up to participate and make big changes to make themselves more energy efficient and I think this is a really positive thing that this is continuing to grow."

Nova Scotia Power has said the implementation of the energy conservation programs, such as offering energy-efficient light bulbs, will mean it will not have to build a new coal-fired plant to generate electricity.

One of the most successful programs has been the small business lighting retrofit, he said. Offered in Dartmouth and Pictou, it will be expanded to more areas of the province if the proposal is approved.

The utility will transfer the implementation of the conservation programs to a newly established government agency called Efficiency Nova Scotia Corp. later this year.

Residential customers in Nova Scotia have seen their power bills go up by about 30 per cent in the past nine years. In June, the review board approved a residential power rate increase of 0.193 cents per kilowatt hour to fund energy conservation programs. Then on Nov. 13, Nova Scotia Power applied to reduce rates by 0.192 cents per kilowatt hour because of lower fuel costs.

A public hearing into the proposed conservation plan has been scheduled for April 19 at the board’s office in downtown Halifax. A separate hearing will be held in October 2010 into how much each customer class will pay for the programs.

http://thechronicleherald.ca/Business/1169763.html

URB to probe NSP’s secret filings

Too many things marked confidential
By JUDY MYRDEN Business Reporter
Fri. Feb 26 - 4:53 AM

The provincial regulator wants to probe secret filings made by Nova Scotia Power.

The Utility and Review Board is upset about the number of documents stamped confidential that the utility has filed with the board.

"We are concerned that some information is being marked as confidential as a matter of routine rather than intent," the board’s executive director, Paul Allen, wrote to Nova Scotia Power lawyer Rene Gallant on Jan. 8.

"This tends to undermine the public’s understanding of, and confidence in, the regulatory process. It also complicates administration and security of files here at the board."

For instance, Nova Scotia Power filed six applications to the board for approval of capital expenditures, and while the evidence may be confidential, the applications are not, Allen said in his letter.

The board states that "the public interest demands a transparent regulatory process," and it wants to investigate Nova Scotia Power’s propensity for marking documents confidential. It is looking for information by March 25.

It sent a letter Tuesday to lawyers and businesses involved with a recent Nova Scotia Power application to spend $120 million on a wind farm and the confidential filings to the board.

"The board is concerned that the level of confidential filings in certain proceedings as currently before it impairs the ability of the board to produce a transparent decision," the board’s regulatory affairs officer wrote in a letter Tuesday.

During a review of the Nuttby Mountain wind farm, the lawyer for Jodrey-owned Scotia Investments Inc. complained about being denied access to confidential information from Nova Scotia Power.

Robert Patzelt of Scotia Investments protested that the company was unable to make informed decisions about Nova Scotia Power’s application because it was refused access to the utility’s documents.

http://thechronicleherald.ca/Business/1169466.html

.... and the fire sale continues on failing wind farms

So far Nova Scotia Power Inc. (NSPI), or it's parent company Emera, has bought out wind energy projects at Nuttby, Digby and now Point Tupper.

Of the remaining six projects accepted by NSPI in their Request For Proposals (RFP) due for submission for 31st August 2007, only Dalhousie Mountain has gone ahead with apparent ease. Glen Dhu struggles and there is no sign of life from the Spanish owned Amherst project at all!

Is it purely the global economic recession that has brought these projects to their knees or is it the highly competitive process RFP process they were required to go through? Or could it be simply that this is an industry which can only exist with huge subsidies with private and public money?

It is a "feel good", band aid solution for a much bigger problem than wind energy can ever hope to solve. It is inefficient and expensive. Industrial wind turbines (IWTs) look like they are trying to do something about reducing greenhouse gases (GHGs), but look at the resources they take up in their production (materials, transportation and land area rendered useless) for intermittent power produced at times when there is least demand. In the meanwhile our consumption increases with no sign of significant reductions or abatement.

Do we want to fill our beautiful landscape with these IWTs, becoming as common as telephone poles, as their efficiency decreases quickly with time and our consumption increases or should we be looking for a long term, reliable solution?

While we waste our public/private money on IWTs in a knee jerk reaction to a huge and old problem, the planet is waving at us desperately seeking help - as it drowns in pollution while also dying of thirst.

If we could simply reduce the GHGs for consumer products and services we require and halt the production of GHGs for stuff we don't need at all, we could be making an immediate difference to our waterways and atmosphere while aiding the millions of people who are suffering right now with polluted water and warring factions fighting over resources we really don't need.

Nova Scotia Power looks to invest $27.8m in C.B. wind farm

By THE CANADIAN PRESS
Tue. Feb 23 - 3:14 PM

Nova Scotia Power is seeking approval for a $27.8-million investment in a wind farm planned for the Strait area in Cape Breton.

The utility, a subsidiary of Emera Inc., has applied to the province's Utility and Review Board for approval to partner with Renewable Energy Services Ltd.

Last February, Nova Scotia Power signed a contract with the company to buy energy from a 22-megawatt wind farm to be built at Point Tupper.

Renewable Energy Services will build and operate the wind farm while Nova Scotia Power will buy 49 per cent of the project.

The wind farm, which is scheduled to come online this year, will produce enough energy to serve about 6,000 homes in Nova Scotia.

Renewable Energy Services owns and operates turbines across the province in a number of communities and has two wind farms in development in Alberta.

http://thechronicleherald.ca/NovaScotia/9015351.html

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

NSP seeks OK of deal on Strait wind farm

By JUDY MYRDEN Business Reporter
Wed. Feb 24 - 4:53 AM

Nova Scotia Power is seeking regulatory approval to spend $28 million to kick-start a stalled wind farm in Point Tupper, Cape Breton.

The utility formally applied Tuesday for approval of its agreement to partner with Renewable Energy Services Ltd. to build and construct a wind farm planned for the Strait area to come online later this year.

"We are very pleased to have this partnership with an experienced Nova Scotia company like RESL, which has been producing wind energy in our province since 2005," Robin McAdam, NSP vice-president, said in a news release.

"Our agreement preserves an excellent project and also ensures that we maintain a long-term contract that will provide clean energy at the lowest possible cost to Nova Scotia Power customers."

Under the agreement, RESL of Lower Sackville will build and operate the wind farm and Nova Scotia Power will have a 49 per cent stake in it.

The $55-million project is to produce 22.5 megawatts of electricity from 11 turbines, enough energy for about 6,000 homes.

Nova Scotia Power proposes to buy six of the wind farm’s new 11 Enercon wind turbines. There is one existing turbine at Point Tupper.

The utility and its parent company, Emera Inc., now have ownership stakes in three of the six wind power projects for which Nova Scotia Power signed power purchase agreements in 2008.

The provincial government ordered Nova Scotia Power to have five per cent of its total electricity purchases generated by independent power producers from renewable energy sources by the end of 2011. The legislation was supposed to encourage competition in the marketplace and allow independent power producers to get a toehold in the province.

RESL owns and operates turbines across Nova Scotia in Brookfield, Goodwood, Digby, Marshville and Richmond County. RESL also has two wind farms under development in Alberta.

http://thechronicleherald.ca/Business/1169194.html

Watt Section to be home to wind turbine

By JUDY MYRDENBusiness Reporter
Tue. Feb 23 - 4:53 AM

Sheet Harbour will have a new structure in its skyline.

Watts Wind Energy Inc., a joint venture between renewable energy operators Seaforth Engineering Group and Eon WindElectric, plans to install a wind turbine at Watt Section in Sheet Harbour.

The 1.5-megawatt Vensys turbine should have the blades whirring this year, the company said Monday.

Watts Wind Energy received one of 10 long-term contracts awarded Jan. 21 to supply Nova Scotia Power with wind-generated electricity for the next 20 years.

The project was submitted in response to Nova Scotia Power’s call for bids in December 2008 for smaller, community-based wind projects.

These will allow the utility to meet the provincial government’s mandated requirement to have 25 per cent of electricity generated from renewable sources by 2015.

The firm has been measuring wind data at the site since October 2008.

The company says, in addition to a cash investment from the principals, the Watts project will be financed with a mix of secured debt and equity capital.

The company news release did not disclose how much the project will cost. Company officials were unavailable for comment.

Watts Wind Energy is being organized under the provincial Community Economic Development Investment Fund, which is RRSP-eligible and provides the potential for tax benefits to eligible Nova Scotia investors.

"We are very excited about using the CEDIF structure for Watts Wind Energy in conjunction with the goal of aiming to distribute most of its net profits," said Stan Mason, Seaforth CEO.

Seaforth Engineering Group also includes Seaforth Energy Inc., formerly named MaManna Renewable Energy Corp., and is a Dartmouth-based company.

http://thechronicleherald.ca/Business/1168992.html

Nova Scotia Power signs 20-year power deal with Watts Wind Energy

By THE CANADIAN PRESS
Mon. Feb 22 - 2:42 PM

A 20-year power purchase agreement has been signed between Nova Scotia Power and Watts Wind Energy Inc.

Under the deal, a 1.5-megawatt wind turbine will be installed at Watt Section, about 120 kilometres east of Halifax.

Watts says it's been measuring wind data at the site since October 2008 and plans to implement the project this year.

The company says it intends to own the entire project, but isn't ruling out selling it or partnering with another company, among other options.

The project will be partially financed with a mix of secured debt and equity capital.

Watts is a joint venture between Halifax-based Seaforth Engineering and Eon WindElectric, a Canadian wind farm installation and servicing firm with offices in Nova Scotia and Newfoundland and Labrador.

Nova Scotia Power is a wholly owned subsidiary of Emera Inc.

http://thechronicleherald.ca/Front/9015338.html

Shear Wind receives council approval

By JUDY MYRDEN Business Reporter
Thu. Feb 18 - 4:54 AM

Wind farm developer Shear Wind Inc. of Bedford received approval to install 14 turbines in Antigonish County on Tuesday night, despite opposition from residents living near the project in Pictou County.

Antigonish County council unanimously approved rezoning of nine properties between McArras Brook and Browns Mountain from a general use zone to a wind development zone, said Coun. Mary MacLellan, who represents the area where the turbines will be located.

Before council’s vote, residents of Pictou County came to a public meeting raising concerns about the noise of whirring blades and property valuations on Tuesday. There were also residents from Antigonish who supported the project, said MacLellan.

Shear Wind is proposing to build a 30-turbine project, called the Glen Dhu wind farm, located along the boundary of Pictou and Antigonish counties. The company wants to install 14 in Antigonish County and the remainder near Baileys Brook, Pictou County.

Donald Brown of Glen Dhu Road, Baileys Brook, retired to the area eight years ago from Toronto for the "view and the solitude."

He opposes Shear Wind’s $150-million wind development project, which is scheduled to start producing enough electricity to power 17,500 homes by the end of this year.

"I have great fears that the turbines will interfere with our lives," said the 81-year-old retired businessman on Wednesday.

From his retirement home, he and his wife Helen will be able to see eight of the proposed 30 turbines. The turbines will be located within 1.5 kilometres of their residence.

Brown, who attended Tuesday night’s public meeting, is not disappointed Antigonish council approved the rezoning as the project meets local zoning regulations.

But he is concerned that new information regarding the health effects of wind turbines and the appropriate distance between turbines and homes is being ignored.

He said he hopes the Environment and Health departments keep informed about new standards for how far turbines should be located from a residence and other related health issues.

"My feeling is that Shear Wind hides behind the Department of Environment’s approval, and they’ve made their decision and won’t consider any new information," said Brown.

Shear Wind received provincial environmental approval for the 60-megawatt electricity project last February.

In Pictou County, wind turbines must be 600 metres from the nearest home. Antigonish adopted regulations last summer requiring the setback to be one kilometre, or 1,000 metres.

Also, Pictou County bylaws do not require the rezoning of land proposed for wind turbines. Proponents there can get permits for wind projects as long as they meet the county’s setback.

MacLellan says she understands the concerns of Pictou County residents but said the 14 turbines to be erected in Antigonish County will not affect any residents in her county.

"It is not our job to re-evaluate the problems in Pictou County," said MacLellan.

"Each wind development is unique. The component of the farm that is going into Antigonish County is going into an area where there are no residents in close proximity, it is not along the coastline and not ruining anyone’s view."

Glen Dhu was supposed to be operating by now, but Shear Wind was unable to secure financing for the capital-intensive project until late last year when Inveravante, a privately held Spanish utility conglomerate, bought a 62 per cent stake in Shear Wind for $27 million.

At Shear Wind’s annual meeting in Halifax last week, shareholders raised concerns about the financing of the project and when the turbines would be purchased.

Company president Mike Magnus said a decision on long-term financing will be made by the end of the first quarter of this year, and the company is in negotiations with three wind turbine suppliers. A decision is to be reached within four weeks.

Shear Wind officials could not be reached Wednesday.

Shares in the company were down three cents Wednesday, closing at 22 cents a share on the Toronto Stock Exchange.

http://thechronicleherald.ca/Business/1168263.html

Land and Sea on CBC TV

Here is a link to CBC TV's "Land and Sea" web site. This link may not work for people outside of Canada.

http://www.cbc.ca/landandsea/

The half hour episode shown yesterday (Feb 14, 2010) featured wind energy projects in Nova Scotia and primarily discussed siting issues.

It starts: Power from the wind is a good thing....right? It's clean and it's green. And Nova Scotia has some of the best wind resources on the planet.

While the government is pushing wind power, not everyone is in favour of it. There's concern about the whirring of the turbines. In some parts of the province people are pushing back, and in other parts, people are applauding.

The show includes:

• Yves Gagnon of Université de Moncton, recently involved in the drafting of recommendations to the NS government in the Wheeler Report with Dalhousie University. The report suggests how to best achieve greenhouse gas reduction in NS over the next several years.
  
• The d'Entremont family of Pubnico who abandoned their home due to adverse health effects afflicting the family since 17 turbines started turning in 2006. The nearest turbine is about 330m from their beautiful home.
• Judith and Nora Peach of Gulliver's Cove, Digby County who, with others oppose a project planned for their neighbourhood, again with some turbines sited too close to homes and property lines.
• Ruben Burge of RMS Energy. Of the six wind energy projects accepted by Nova Scotia Power Inc two years ago, this is the only one that has gone ahead (it is all but complete barring final testing). The developer is shown as someone who has done their best to site turbines responsibly, consulting heavily with local property owners near his site on Dalhousie Mountain, Pictou County.
• Warden Aldric d'Entremont of the Minicipality of Argyle who, although is very happy with the income from the Pubnico wind energy plant admits, given what they know now, that if he had it all to do again he "would have more separation distance between the wind farm and the homes".
  

Defining ‘community’ energy projects

RACHEL BRIGHTON JUST BUSINESS
Sun. Feb 14 - 4:53 AM

SHOULD an international company operating in eight countries qualify as a "small, community-based" producer of wind power?

That’s one question the government will need to answer when it releases its renewable energy strategy in the spring.

In January, Nova Scotia Power awarded six contracts to "small, community-based" enterprises. But one of the six went to Wind Prospect Inc., which has an office in Halifax, but is 90-per-cent owned by Wind Prospect Group Ltd. of England.

In what sense is a project like this a community project? Jennifer Parker, of Nova Scotia Power, replied to that question in an email this week.

"In terms of your larger question about these projects, we referred to them in the recent media release as ‘small, community-based’ projects, which is probably different than ‘community-owned.’ "

Parker said "we were also looking for projects that would have a positive economic impact on the local economy of the communities where they are built."

The utility wouldn’t confirm the other five companies were majority-owned by Nova Scotians.

But the publicly listed directors are almost all provincial residents.

When the Nova Scotia government releases its renewable energy strategy in the spring, the definition of a community energy project and its purpose need to be clearly defined.

Nancy Watson, a spokeswoman for the Energy Department, said in an email this week the government would establish a new class of "community" renewable energy projects.

"How best to provide the support necessary to get these projects built is still in discussion," Watson said,

Michelle Adams and David Wheeler of Dalhousie University argue in their recent report that subsidizing community producers of renewable energy, such as municipalities and First Nations, is the best way to spread the economic benefits of a new renewable energy regime in Nova Scotia.

They suggest this should be done through a system of feed-in tariffs, which set a fixed rate to allow for the cost of producing electricity and a reasonable return for investors.

Last week, New Brunswick adopted this kind of tariff system to support community energy projects of up to 15 megawatts.

To be eligible for the fixed rate of 10 cents per kilowatt hour, community enterprises must be majority-owned by First Nations, municipalities, co-operatives, associations or not-for-profit organizations in the province.

After five years, the price will be indexed to inflation.

A spokesman for the Energy Department in New Brunswick, Keith Melvin, said the policy was still being refined, but contracts for wind projects could be set for 20 to 25 years and hyrdo contracts might be longer.

The New Brunswick policy has been criticized as being a political gloss on the pending sale of key NB Power assets to Hydro-Quebec and for setting the tariff too low. Yet there seems to be agreement that community-generated renewable energy should play a key part in rural development.

As Nova Scotia moves to support rural jobs and investment by supporting community energy projects, it needs to make the case for how they will truly "encourage community investment and development," to borrow the words of Nova Scotia Power.

Government also needs to make clear in what sense these projects will be "community-owned" and how community consent will be gained.

Rachel Brighton publishes the regional magazine Coastlands and is a former business editor and journalist.

http://thechronicleherald.ca/Business/1167529.html

Emera posts Q4 record earnings

NSP parent posts highest fourth quarter
By JUDY MYRDEN Business Reporter
Sat. Feb 13 - 4:54 AM

Emera Inc., the owner of Nova Scotia Power and other utilities, reported record earnings for the fourth quarter of 2009 of $37.5 million, compared with $25.3 million in the prior-year quarter.

For the full year ended Dec. 31, the energy giant earned $175.7 million, compared with $144.1 million in 2008, the Halifax company said in financial statements released Friday.

"2009 was a very positive year for Emera. We achieved record earnings, hit a record share price and progressed our strategy. . . . I’m optimistic about the many opportunities that exist for us in the changing energy industry," Emera president Chris Huskilson said during a conference call with analysts Friday.

Revenues were not disclosed in the company’s news release as the company’s auditors, Ernst & Young, were unable to get third-party auditors of Emera subsidiary Bear Swamp, but they are expected next week, said Nancy Tower, Emera’s chief financial officer.

Shareholders received good news, with the company’s board of directors approving a quarterly dividend of 28.5 cents per share, an increase of 0.01 per cent, payable to shareholders of record on May 17.

In trading Friday on the TSX, Emera shares rose 82 cents to $23.98. On Dec. 18, Emera’s stock hit a 52-week high of $25.57.

Huskilson said there will be many opportunities for the company as it strives to become a cleaner, greener utility and meet the mandated targets of having 25 per cent of electricity generated from renewable sources by 2015.

The company has been investing in several wind projects and launched the first tidal turbine in the Bay of Fundy in November, although it is not producing electricity for the grid.

"The reduction of emissions and addition of new renewable energy and transmission of these new renewables to customers has resulted in increased capital spending in 2009 and coming years," Huskilson told analysts.

"This is good news for the economy of Nova Scotia, as we are buying goods and services and hiring skilled people in the province. Over the long term, these renewables will displace some of the fuel costs that are currently incurred."

Nova Scotia Power’s capital budget for operating the utility, including renewables, is $430 million. In 2011, the utility is forecasting to spend $340 million, said Rob Bennett, Nova Scotia Power president.

Huskilson credits the company’s strong financial performance to its regulated utility and other businesses last year, resulting in "strong operating results" and continued growth with new acquisitions.

The successes include the completion of the 145-kilometre Brunswick Pipeline in New Brunswick that started to ship gas in July, and the deal to acquire Bayside Power, a 260-megawatt gas-fired power plant in Saint John, N.B.

The company also took a 9.9 per cent interest in Algonquin Power Income Fund.

Nova Scotia Power con-tributed $109.3 million to consolidated earnings in 2009, compared to $105.6 million for the same period in 2008. That was due to an increase in electricity margin and a fuel incentive paid to the company.

Emera has two wholly owned, regulated electric utility subsidiaries, Nova Scotia Power and Bangor Hydro Electric Co., which together have about 600,000 customers.

Bangor Hydro made $27.5 million last year, compared to $23 million in the previous year.

"This increase was mainly attributable to increased returns from new transmission investments and a stronger average U.S. dollar," the company stated.

The Brunswick Pipeline went into service in July. Emera also has a 12.9 per cent stake in the Sable natural gas pipeline, and those pipelines contributed $24.2 million to the bottom line in 2009, compared to $15.4 million in 2008.

Last week, Emera closed its purchase of the proposed 30-megawatt Digby wind park in Digby County. The purchase agreement involves 100 per cent of the project, including development rights and 20 General Electric wind turbines.

Huskilson said he expects the $80-million Digby wind project to be moved over to Nova Scotia Power.

http://thechronicleherald.ca/Business/1167410.html

Green firm wants its cash

Shear Wind talking to NSP about $500,000 late penalty
By JUDY MYRDEN Business Reporter
Thu. Feb 11 - 4:54 AM

Shear Wind Inc. president Mike Magnus told shareholders at the company’s annual meeting Wednesday that the firm is trying to recoup a $500,000 penalty it paid to Nova Scotia Power when it failed to deliver wind power on time.

The Bedford renewable energy company forfeited its performance security deposit when it did not deliver wind-generated electricity from its proposed northern Nova Scotia wind farm by the end of last year.

"No, we haven’t given up. . . . That folder has not been put away," said Magnus, responding to a shareholder’s question.

"We think that we will want to discuss it and I’ve made them aware of that."

A Nova Scotia Power employee was in attendance at the meeting and, before it started, was asked by a shareholder if they had brought $500,000.

The company had to forfeit the cash because of a contract it signed with the utility in 2008.

This was tough news for a company that incurred significant losses over the last three years, including a $628,182 loss last year.

The $150-million Glen Dhu wind project was supposed to be operating by now, but Shear Wind was unable to secure financing for the capital-intensive project until late last year when Inveravante, a privately held Spanish utility conglomerate, bought a 62 per cent stake in Shear Wind for $27 million.

Magnus said the company is focused on meeting the new deadline to bring on 60 megawatts of wind power by the end of 2010 or face a $1-million security performance penalty.

"We’re still going forward with Glen Dhu, that’s the good news. People ask me, are we going to meet our Dec. 31 delivery date for Nova Scotia Power? Absolutely we are. We are working really, really hard at getting there," Magnus said to about 30 people attending the meeting at the Halifax Club.

Magnus was tight-lipped about financing for the wind farm when asked if it would come from government, banks or issuing more company shares.

He said a decision on long-term financing will be made by the end of the first quarter of this year.

He quickly added that he has knocked on every government office door but has been unsuccessful in securing any public financing for the wind project.

He also told shareholders the company is currently in negotiations with three wind turbine suppliers and should have a deal within three to four weeks.

Those negotiations may go faster with new partner Inveravante than in the past, when Shear Wind was unsuccessful in purchasing turbines.

Inveravante’s Jose Fernandez Olano, who spearheaded the acquisition of Shear Wind last year, said his company will bring a lot of clout to the negotiating table.

"I think the most thing Inveravante brings (is) expertise in building wind farms and also economy of scale that will benefit all shareholders. The prices we could be getting from wind manufacturers are much more attractive to Shear Wind having Inveravante behind than if Shear Wind was on a standalone basis," said Olano, of Spain.

In the meantime, Shear Wind is pushing ahead with Glen Dhu, located along the border of Pictou and Antigonish counties. On Tuesday, Shear Wind’s plan to locate 14 wind turbines in Antigonish County goes before municipal council for rezoning.

Shares in the wind company were up one cent on Wednesday, closing at 24 cents a share on the Toronto Stock Exchange.

http://thechronicleherald.ca/Business/1167036.html

Wind farm rezoning likely a go

Council to debate Antigonish County project next week
By JUDY MYRDEN Business Reporter
Wed. Feb 10 - 4:53 AM

Smooth sailing is predicted for a proposed wind farm in Antigonish County, even though it ran into trouble with Pictou County residents.

Coun. Mary MacLellan expects Antigonish County council will soon approve Shear Wind Inc.’s application to rezone nine properties between McArras Brook and Browns Mountain, Antigonish County, from a general use zone to a wind development zone.

The approval would allow the construction of the 14 wind turbines to go ahead.

"I support the project and most people I’ve heard from do as well. The project meets all the criteria for rezoning," MacLellan said Tuesday.

The development is part of a 30-turbine, $170-million project, called the Glen Dhu wind farm. It is located along the boundary between Pictou and Antigonish counties. The remainder of the turbines will be built near Baileys Brook, Pictou County.

MacLellan, who represents the area in Antigonish County where the turbines will be located, said she supports the project because it will provide the municipality with increased tax revenues, 10 full-time jobs and other employment opportunities during the development and construction phase of the project.

Antigonish County council will hold a public hearing next Tuesday on the proposed rezoning.

A staff report, given to council in December, is recommending the rezoning be approved because the project meets all local bylaw requirements for wind development, including a one kilometre distance between the turbines and local homes. The closest dwelling to a turbine would be about 1.1 kilometres away.

She said council could vote on rezoning the land immediately after the Tuesday night’s public meeting but a vote will depend on whether the public raises any concerns.

"It’s important the public have an opportunity to find out exactly what is planned," she said.

There has been opposition to the project in Pictou County. Residents there believe the wind turbines will be built too close to homes.

MacLellan said she watched what happened in Pictou County closely. She believes there wasn’t enough public consultation in that county and its regulation that a turbine be a minimum of 600-metre away from a home was controversial.

Last month Shear Wind held an open house in Antigonish County to show where the 14 turbines being built in that county will be located. About 60 people attended the event.

John Bain, the regional planning director for Antigonish County, said the numbers that turned out for that meeting were much higher than for other meetings the county has held on wind development. As an example, he pointed to a meeting Antigonish County council held that only attracted two people. That meeting was held to update residents on the bylaw that created the 1,000 metre setback for wind turbines

Unlike Antigonish County, Bain said Pictou County’s bylaws do not require the rezoning of land proposed for wind turbines and proponents there can get permits for wind projects as long as they meet that county’s setback requirement.

"On the Antigonish side . . . for a utility scale wind turbine they need to go through the rezoning process," he said.

The Glen Dhu project was suppose to be operating by now, but Shear Wind of Bedford was unable to secure financing for the capital intensive project, until last year when Inveravante, a privately held Spanish utility conglomerate, bought a 62 per cent stake in Shear Wind for $27 million.

Nova Scotia Power Inc. also hit Shear Wind with a $500,000 penalty for failing to bring the Glen Dhu project on line by the end of Nov. 2009. The company hopes to have the project producing green energy by the end of this year.

Shear Wind will hold its annual shareholders meeting today at the Halifax Club in downtown Halifax at 3 p.m.

http://thechronicleherald.ca/Business/1166820.html

Company wins contract to supply wind energy to Nova Scotia Power

By JUDY MYRDEN Business Reporter
Sat. Feb 6 - 4:54 AM

An international renewable energy company is set to bolster its expansion into Canada with a wind energy project in Antigonish County.

Wind Prospects Inc., a Canadian subsidiary of U.K.-based Wind Prospects Group, has recently been awarded a contract to supply electricity to Nova Scotia Power. This will allow the utility to meet government’s mandated requirement to have 25 per cent of electricity from renewable sources by 2015.

"This is our first project in Nova Scotia," said Austin Hughes, Wind Prospects’ development manager, in Halifax on Friday. "We could see there was potential and growth for wind energy in North America. We see this project as the first of many projects . . . we are looking to develop in the province."

In total, 20 bids were received by Nova Scotia Power in response to its recent call for bids, with only 10 contracts being awarded to smaller, community wind developments.

Hughes said the company has over 20 years’ experience in the wind generation business around the world, with wind farm projects in Europe, Asia Pacific and North America.

Despite the turbulent economic times, Hughes is "very confident" the Fairmont project, six kilometres north of the town of Antigonish, will proceed and should be in production by the middle of 2012.

"I certainly think that our track record and wealth of experience is extremely difficult to beat," said Hughes.

The Fairmont project will have two wind turbines and generate four megawatts of electricity. It is estimated to cost about $8 million.

Hughes said his attention will be focused on holding the first public meeting within the next six to eight weeks, setting up a website, conducting an environmental assessment and running a noise-impact assessment.

He said the company has yet to purchase the turbines but has signed an option to lease the land from two landowners.

This will be the third wind project on the books for Antigonish County.

The county approved the $12-million Maryvale wind project last year, which was approved without any opposition. The project, which started last fall, is owned by Maryvale Wind Energy LP and has four Dutch-built Vensys turbines, each producing 1.5 megawatts of power.

The county is in the process of reviewing Shear Wind’s proposed $170-million wind park, with its 14 turbines, that will straddle Pictou and Antigonish counties, said John Bain, director of planning for Antigonish County.

"That’s significant over the last little while," said Bain.

Wind Prospects will have to apply to the municipality to have the area rezoned for the turbines. Municipal bylaws stipulate wind turbines must be located one kilometre from any residence.

"I would say the bylaw is supportive of wind turbine development so long as it meets these setback requirements, and council’s feeling for making them go through a rezoning (process) is they want as much public input as possible," said Bain.

Hughes said the two turbines will be located in a rural setting with a small pocket of houses and will be at least one kilometre from the nearest residence.

http://thechronicleherald.ca/Business/1166212.html

Emera adds to wind holdings

Firm now owns Digby Neck wind farm
By JUDY MYRDEN Business Reporter
Wed. Feb 3 - 4:53 AM

Nova Scotia Power Inc.’s parent company has gobbled up the remaining interests in a 20-turbine wind farm in Digby Neck.

Emera Inc. announced Tuesday that it has purchased 100 per cent of the shares Scotian WindFields Inc. had in the project.

Emera purchased the other half of the project last November from SkyPower Corp., which entered into creditor protection when owner Lehman Brothers Holding Inc. went bankrupt.

"As we moved through that process, we started into meetings and discussions with Scotian. We ended up purchasing their interest as well," said Emera spokeswoman Sasha Irving.

Ms. Irving could not disclose the purchase price but the development cost of the wind farm is estimated to be between $70 million and $80 million.Emera finalized the purchase of Scotian Windfields on Feb.1. The deal includes a development agreement that will see Scotian Windfields continue to work on the project in an unspecified capacity. Development costs on the Digby wind project were about $19.1 million when SkyPower filed for creditor protection in August.

The company also paid US$16.2 million towards the cost of purchasing 20 wind turbines from General Electric Co. The total cost of purchasing the turbines is about US$41.1 million, according to court documents.

Dan Roscoe, chief operating officer of Scotian Windfields, said the project can now move toward completion. "We think this is a very positive move for our investors for what we had invested in to this project," he said Tuesday.

"I think this project is a project that Nova Scotia needs. We need it to meet our renewable energy goals and greenhouse gas emission targets and we look forward to working with Emera to get it done."

The Digby wind project includes a 20-year power purchase agreement with Nova Scotia Power. The project is expected to be completed by Dec. 31 and is expected to produce enough energy to serve about 10,000 homes.

The transaction was financed with existing credit facilities.

Nova Scotia Power has a stake in two other wind projects being developed in Nova Scotia.

Last month, the utility announced it was spending $28 million to kick-start a stalled wind power project in Point Tupper. Under the agreement, Renewable Energy Services Ltd. of Lower Sackville will build and operate the wind farm in Richmond County and Nova Scotia Power will have a 49 per cent interest.

Last year, Nova Scotia Power purchased the $120-million Nuttby Mountain project in Colchester County from EarthFirst Canada Inc. of Calgary. The project had stalled due to the global credit crisis.

http://thechronicleherald.ca/Business/1165556.html

Wind firm puts $1.5m on line

NSP gets guarantee for energy delivery
By JUDY MYRDEN Business Reporter
Tue. Feb 2 - 4:53 AM

The stakes are getting higher for a Bedford renewable energy company to deliver wind-generated electricity on time.

Shear Wind Inc. has posted a $1.5-million security deposit to Nova Scotia Power to deliver the green power to the utility by the end of this year, according to documents filed with securities regulators Friday.

Shear Wind says it has agreed to the performance security deposit as part of its contract with the utility to provide 60 megawatts of green electricity by Dec. 31 from its proposed $170-million Glen Dhu wind turbine park near New Glasgow.

The commitment was made as of the end of November 2009, according to the documents.

This latest news comes just weeks after Shear Wind revealed it had to pay a $500,000 performance security deposit held by Nova Scotia Power for not delivering 20 megawatts of wind-generated electricity by Nov. 30.

The company had to forfeit the cash based on a contract it signed with the utility in April 2008, it reported in documents.

Shear Wind was delayed in starting its Glen Dhu wind turbine park because of the collapse in the world credit markets in 2008.

The company, like many others, was unable to borrow the money to finance the project.

According to other wind power developers who signed contracts with Nova Scotia Power, the security deposit is based on $25,000 per megawatt.

This was tough news for a company that has incurred significant losses over the last three years, including a $628,182 loss last year, according to company documents.

Mike Magnus, Shear Wind president, said Friday the company is about to "turn the corner" on its Glen Dhu project and should have an announcement shortly on purchasing turbines.

As of the end of November, the company has spent $1,992,044 with respect to land controlled in Nova Scotia.

Shear Wind continues to incur losses, according to its most recent financial statements.

The company is reporting a loss of $357,283 for the three-month period to the end of November 2009, compared to $662,397 for the same period in 2008.

The decrease in the loss is being attributed to a decrease in salaries and benefits, according to the management discussion and analysis filed with regulators Friday.

As of the end of November 2009, the company had total assets of $32,819,443, compared to $9.1 million at the end of August 2009.

The company’s overall assets improved at that time with the infusion of $27 million by a Spanish billionaire into the company in return for a majority stake.

Shear Wind, a publicly traded company formed in 2004, is holding its annual meeting Feb. 10 at the Halifax Club.

Shareholders will also be asked to approve a new nominee to the board of directors from the Spanish company, Inveravante. Jose Fernandez Olano, who spearheaded the acquisition of Shear Wind, has been nominated.

Shear Wind has a range of wind farm projects in various feasibility and development stages in Nova Scotia, New Brunswick and Alberta.

http://thechronicleherald.ca/Business/1165469.html