News release

More Clean Energy Coming to Cape Breton

Energy and Mines (July 2018 - Aug. 2021)

Building on the recent success of the SolarHomes program, Nova Scotians continue to add more clean, renewable solar energy to the electricity grid with support from the province.

Energy and Mines Minister Derek Mombourquette, announced today, Sept. 24, that the Strait Area Campus of the Nova Scotia Community College (NSCC) in Port Hawkesbury has been approved for the Solar Electricity for Community Buildings Program.

“This program gives local organizations a chance to participate in, and benefit from, Nova Scotia’s progress toward a cleaner energy future,” said Mr. Mombourquette. “Our province is already a leader in addressing climate change by reducing emissions and these projects will only build on our successes.”

The project involves adding 75 kilowatts of solar electricity panels to the field next to the Fire School at the NSCC Strait Area Campus.

“With the addition of this solar installation, we are helping to reduce the province’s dependence on fossil fuels, while supporting the college’s nationally recognized sustainability agenda,” said Monica Foster, NSCC vice-president, college services, and chief financial officer. “This resource will not only support our sustainability goals, it will also allow for an enhanced student experience by providing a hands-on learning lab for several of our programs.”

This year, a total of 27 applications were selected from across the province. If all projects are completed, Nova Scotia will add 1,617 kilowatts of renewable electricity to the grid. That is more than double last year’s total.

All applications were overseen by Clean Foundation, the independent procurement administrator.

The average selling price this year for electricity generated through these projects is 25.4 cents per kilowatt hour. The impact to ratepayers is capped at 0.1 per cent, which is already built into the province’s rate stability plan.

The program is for Mi’kmaw communities, registered non-profit or charitable organizations, municipalities or organizations owned by municipalities, universities or community colleges in Nova Scotia.

The program will be offered for one more year. For more information on the program, visit www.novascotia.ca/solar .