News release

Sydney Biomass Energy Project Gets Go-Ahead

Energy (June 2002 - July 2018)

Cape Breton is now well positioned to be a leader in biomass energy with the announcement today, Jan. 28, that the Harbourside biomass plant in Sydney is proceeding to the next phase in the Community Feed-in Tariff program or COMFIT.

Deputy Premier Frank Corbett made the announcement at the Verschuren Centre for Sustainability in Energy and the Environment at Cape Breton University.

"Biomass is an important part of our vision to continue to strengthen our forestry sector," said Mr. Corbett. "The project is another example of a community-led clean, renewable energy project that is both good for the environment and the local economy."

The 2010 Renewable Electricity Plan introduced the COMFIT concept to help transform the province's energy future, provide a secure supply of clean, local energy at stable prices and create jobs.

The Harbourside biomass project, operated by Cape Breton Explorations, will generate six megawatts of energy and create 15 new jobs at the plant, plus 50 new jobs in the forestry sector. The company is committed to supporting sustainable forestry management practices established by the Department of Natural Resources, and to procure specialty fuel sources like willow through direct contracts with farmers.

Lockheed Martin is the designated contractor to supply engineering procurement and construction services for this project. Cape Breton Explorations will work with Lockheed Martin to develop the project, and it is anticipated that most of the construction will be done by local contractors.

The biomass plant will eventually use the extra heat it produces to generate methane fuel or natural gas. This fuel will then be used to power school buses, delivery trucks, and other vehicles that need to stop and start frequently, helping reduce their fuel costs by more than 50 per cent.

"Today's announcement is an excellent example of how renewable energy and sustainable economic development can go hand and hand," said Luciano Lisi, president of Cape Breton Explorations Limited.

More than 20 community groups have submitted over 90 locally-based proposals for the unique, made-in-Nova Scotia initiative that encourages community participation in renewable energy projects.

COMFIT provides eligible groups an established price per kilowatt hour for projects producing electricity from renewable resources such as wind, biomass, and in-stream tidal and run-of-the-river tidal developments. The feed-in tariff rates were established by the Utilities and Review Board in September.

Eligible groups include municipalities, First Nations, co-operatives, universities, community economic development funds 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 to be produced through the COMFIT.