New Plan To Create Jobs, Stable Electricity Prices, Cleaner Environment

Premier's Office

Published Friday, April 23, 2010

Nova Scotia is charting a course to be a global leader in green energy by 2020. The province has released a plan (PDF) designed to increase renewable electricity supply, improve energy security, stabilize long-term prices and create opportunities for jobs and investment.

Quotes

“This is about making the right decisions for our economy and our environment. We are putting our energy future where it belongs, back in Nova Scotians' hands.” Premier Darrell Dexter, speaking at the recently opened Dalhousie Mountain wind farm in Pictou County

“This strategy will create hundreds of good jobs for Nova Scotians and a billion-and-a-half dollars in new investment to help grow the economy. Consumers can look forward to more stable electricity prices and a more secure supply of energy.” Premier Darrell Dexter

“Nova Scotians see the importance of adding renewables to our future energy supply. But in the short term, we also want to keep power bills as low as possible. I believe this plan strikes that balance.” Energy Minister Bill Estabrooks

“Nova Scotia has taken a national leadership role today in cleaning up its electricity supply; setting the bar for Canada's other provinces that still rely heavily on coal power.” Tim Weis, director of renewable energy and efficiency with the Pembina Institute

“It is commendable to see a real emphasis on developing community-based renewable power systems through a feed-in tariff as an important element of this plan.” Tim Weis, Pembina Institute

“It takes a lot of work to get renewable projects approved, financed and built. This plan provides important support for locally produced renewable energy and projects like ours. We are very pleased to be able to contribute to Nova Scotia's longer-term green-energy strategy.” Reuben Burge, president of the RMSenergy

“For Springhill, this plan will provide new opportunities to attract businesses and be more competitive through our own renewable energy development plans.” Springhill Mayor Allen Dill

Quick Facts

• Premier Darrell Dexter announced that the province has set a goal of 40 per cent of electricity coming from renewable sources by 2020, nearly four times higher than 2009 levels.
• The plan outlines an aggressive program to move Nova Scotia away from imported coal-based electricity towards greener local sources, supported by world-class wind and tidal resources.
• Plan highlights:
  • government's commitment to 25 per cent renewable electricity by 2015 will become law
  • equal participation by Nova Scotia Power and independent producers for medium- to large-size projects to ensure value for customers
  • a fixed price, or feed-in tariff, for community-based projects to allow broader participation
  • enhanced net metering, which credits consumers for the energy they produce with wind, solar and other renewables
  • a cautious approach to biomass, with harvesting standards and caps on generation in new and existing plants
  • feed-in tariffs for small-scale tidal projects and tidal arrays, if further development proves safe
  • encouraging further natural gas use to help balance intermittent sources like wind
• The plan is expected to support up to $1.5 billion in investment. It will create jobs in construction, supply, manufacturing and maintenance, generating an estimated 5,000 to 7,500 person-years of employment in urban and rural areas.

Learn More

• The Renewable Electricity Plan (PDF)
• Department of Energy
• Premier's Office
• Pembina Institute

Media Contacts

Janet Lynn McNeil

Premier's Office

Cell: 902-237-4287

E-mail: mcneiljl@gov.ns.ca

Matt Lumley

Department of Energy

Cell: 902-497-3414

E-mail: lumleymw@gov.ns.ca

Reuben Burge

RMSenergy

902-771-0322

E-mail: reubenburge@eastlink.ca

Tim Weis

Pembina Institute

Cell: 613-601-6519

E-mail: timw@pembina.org