Community Feed-in Tariff Program Announces Sixth Round of Successful Applicants

NOTE: Details of the approved projects follows this release.

Fourteen communities from across Nova Scotia are closer to enjoying the benefits of clean, green renewable electricity generated in their own backyards as the province announced the next round of approved Community Feed-In Tariff (COMFIT) projects in Guysborough today, April 16.

The approvals, granted since March 30, are:

• the Municipality of the District of Guysborough
• Fundy Tidal Inc.
• Wind4All Communities
• Chebucto Terence Bay Wind Project
• Colchester-Cumberland Windfield
• Watts Wind
• Scotian Wind Inc.
• Affinity Renewables
• the Municipality of the District of Shelburne
• Kwilmu'kw Maw-klusuaqn

Next steps for applicants include securing financing, completing a grid-impact study and obtaining the required federal and provincial environmental assessments and approvals.

"We are very pleased with the collaborative approaches being taken by our applicants," said Energy Minister Charlie Parker. "Once constructed, these projects will generate and distribute clean, green power close to home, providing economic development opportunities in the communities they serve."

The Community Feed-in Tariff (COMFIT) concept was introduced in the 2010 Renewable Electricity Plan to help reduce greenhouse gas emissions, provide a secure supply of clean energy at stable prices and create jobs. The program began accepting applications in September 2011.

Almost 100 locally based proposals have been received from more than 20 community groups for this unique, made-in-Nova Scotia initiative to encourage community participation in renewable energy projects.

"The COMFIT program is an innovative way for the province to help communities move away from their dependence on coal-generated electricity," said Terry Norman, president of the Chebucto Terence Bay Wind Project. "We're delighted that our project has been approved and we look forward to starting the next phase of the process right away."

The Community Feed-in Tariff allows eligible groups to receive an established price per kilowatt hour (kWh) for projects producing electricity from certain renewable resources. Rates were established by the Utility and Review Board in September.

Projects can include wind, biomass, in-stream tidal and run-of-the-river hydroelectric developments. Eligible groups include municipalities, First Nations, co-operatives, universities and not-for-profit groups.

The COMFIT program will help the province reach its renewable electricity targets of 25 per cent renewable electricity by 2015 and 40 per cent by 2020. The province expects 100 megawatts of electricity to be produced through the COMFIT program.

For more information on the program visit www.nsrenewables.ca.

Following is a list of approved projects:

• Four 50-kilowatt small wind projects, owned by the Municipality of the District of Guysborough in Melford and Goldboro
• One 800-kilowatt large wind project in Tatamagouche, owned by Colchester-Cumberland Windfields
• One 800-kilowatt large wind project in Lingan, owned by Watts Wind Energy
• One 1.99 megawatt, a five- and a six-megawatt large wind projects, owned by Scotian Wind Inc. in Bucklaw, Three Mile Plains and Elmsdale respectively
• One 500-kilowatt tidal energy project, owned by Fundy Tidal Inc., in Grand Passage and one 100-kilowatt tidal energy project in the Barra Strait
• One three megawatt project near Pictou and one six-megawatt project near Trenton, owned by Affinity Renewables
• One 4.6 megawatt project, owned by Wind4all Communities near Merigomish, and one four-megawatt wind project in Groves Point
• A four-megawatt wind project in Whynott's Settlement, owned by Kwilmu'kw Maw-klusuaqn
• One 50-kilowatt small wind project in Shelburne, owned by the Municipality of the District of Shelburne
• One six megawatt project, owned by Chebucto Terence Bay Wind Project in Terence Bay