News release

Funding Announced for LED Streetlights, Solar, Wind Power

Environment (April 2008 - Feb. 2021)

NOTE: A list of funding amounts for municipalities follows this release.


Municipalities in Nova Scotia are receiving more than $2 million to help convert conventional streetlights to energy-efficient LED streetlights that save money and benefit the environment.

The funding, from the ecoNova Scotia Fund for Clean Air and Climate Change, was announced today, June 11, in Warren, Cumberland Co., near Amherst, by Premier Darrell Dexter and includes further funding for solar and wind-power projects in that town.

"Projects that reduce climate change and improve air quality are smart investments," said Premier Dexter. "New environmental technologies in the province, such as LED streetlighting, will create good jobs, grow the economy and improve the lives of all Nova Scotians."

Seven municipalities are receiving the LED-related funding, including the Town of Amherst, which will get $700,000 to convert all of its 1,200 streetlights. Six other municipalities -- HRM, Berwick, Canso, Lunenburg, Antigonish, and Mahone Bay -- will receive a total of almost $1.4 million to convert to LED streetlights.

The premier also announced $230,000 toward other alternative energy projects in the Amherst area.

Solartron Energy Systems, which hosted today's announcement, will receive $50,567 from the ecoNova Scotia fund to help in its manufacturing of SolarBeam Concentrators, which use solar energy to heat water.

The Municipality of Cumberland will get $9,753 to install one of Solartron's SolarBeam Concentrators at its administration building.

The ecoNova Scotia fund is giving Amherst $144,900 toward a 50 kW wind turbine for an ecological sewage treatment plant, and $28,500 to convert its fire department's heat source from electric to a natural-gas boiler.

The projects supported by ecoNova Scotia help meet the goals of the Environmental Goals and Sustainable Prosperity Act and the Climate Change Action Plan. They also will help Nova Scotia become a recognized leader in energy efficiency and renewable energy technology.

More ecoNova Scotia funding announcements will be made in the near future. The original $42.5 million grant that supported the fund came from the government of Canada and has been fully committed. Applications are no longer being accepted.


Following is a list of ecoNova Scotia funding announced today:

  • Amherst: $700,000 to convert its 1,200 streetlights to LED streetlights
  • Antigonish: $49,500 to replace 100 streetlights with LED lights
  • Berwick: $101,573 to replace 234 streetlights with LED
  • Canso $98,250 to convert 154 streetlights to LED
  • HRM $918,807 to replace 2,208 streetlights with LED
  • Lunenburg: $178,268 to convert the remaining 532 streetlights to LED
  • Mahone Bay: $16,839 to convert 44 streetlights to LED
  • Solartron Energy Systems: $50,567 to manufacture parts for SolarBeam concentrators, which use solar energy to heat water.
  • The Municipality of Cumberland: $9,753 to install a SolarBeam Concentrator at its administration building.
  • Town of Amherst: $144,900 toward a 50kW wind turbine for an ecological sewage treatment plant
  • Town of Amherst: $28,500 to convert the fire department's heat source from electric to natural-gas.