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Wind project coming to Shag Harbour

Shag Harbour is closer to enjoying the benefits of clean, green renewable electricity generated in its own backyard, according to a news release from the Nova Scotia government.

A wind energy project in Shag Harbour received approval Sept. 21, under the Community Feed-in Tariff (COMFIT) Program. A government spokesman said that "The approval of this project demonstrates how Nova Scotians are committed to improving their energy future, reducing their environmental footprint, and creating economic opportunities. Shag Harbour will soon be able to produce clean, green electricity to power its homes and businesses."

Watts Wind Energy will develop the 3.2 MW project as a Community Economic Development Investment Fund (CEDIF), which will sell shares across the province, with a focus on the community. CEDIFs have been used to generate funds for wind energy projects throughout the province, including a major project in Digby Neck.

"The Shag Harbour/Barrington area is very windy; we look forward to developing this world-class resource with the community," said Paul Pynn, director and vice-president, Watts Wind. "We are encouraged by the level of interest community members have shown in sharing the ownership of the project and contributing to greener electricity production in the province, while creating local economic development."
In an interview with SCT, Pynn said that a recent public meeting in Shag Harbour met with considerable enthusiasm and that the offering documents for the CEDIF are likely to be filed within the month.

The release says that the 2010 Renewable Electricity Plan introduced the COMFIT concept to help provide a secure supply of clean energy at stable prices, build community support for renewable energy projects and create jobs.   
"COMFIT offers Nova Scotia the opportunity to become a leader in renewable energy," said the government news release. "In addition, renewable energy projects such as this will help the province to move away from dirty fossil fuels and towards our legislated goal of 40 per cent renewable energy by 2020."

Tory Energy critic Chuck Porter said in a news release Friday that the promised review of the NDP’s "bite the bullet electricity plan” was over due and that, "the unaffordable, aggressive renewable targets in the plan are the reason rates are skyrocketing. Porter claims that, in the Plan, the NDP tell Nova Scotians they must "bite the bullet" and pay more for power.
 
“It’s time to scrap this plan. It doesn’t work. We can’t afford it,” said Porter. “Nova Scotians expect their government to stand up for them, not special interests or the power company’s interests.”
 
Porter says the NDP broke with a consensus to move to renewables at pace that was in-step with the economy and what people can afford. "Instead," says Porter, "the NDP are pushing power rates through the roof in blind pursuit of an artificial and unaffordable target that is out of touch with our economy and reality."
                                            
Eligible groups receive an established price per kilowatt hour for projects producing electricity from certain renewable resources. Projects can include wind, biomass, in-stream tidal and river hydroelectric developments. Eligible groups include municipalities, First Nations, co-operatives, universities and not-for-profit groups. 

More than 25 community-based groups have submitted over 100 locally based renewable energy development proposals for the COMFIT initiative. The province expects 100 megawatts to be produced through COMFIT.

Comments

 #

Shag Harbour's proposed 3.2 MW industrial wind turbine (IWT) will allow their council to receive taxpayers' hard earned dollars through the COMFIT scam, and who will be supplying that IWT?
I'd place my bets it will come from Trenton's DAEWOO/DSME turbine plant - currently sitting idle with a skeleton staff.
N.S. taxpayers own 49% of the shares - we have yet to learn how far Dexter has set us back on this $61 million boondoggle.
Where's our Auditor General when you really need him - his report would blow the lid on renewable energy.
*****
http://thechronicleherald.ca/business/138263-wind-firm-seeks-new-capital...
According to the C.H. they may use two smaller IWT's, and they may be purchased outside of Canada - heh, has Dexter mentioned they can buy them cheap in Shanghai?

 
 #

Perhaps the province should sell shares in the hot air that comes out of Dexter's mouth every time he opens it. He could probably provide enough energy to light up the entire county.

 
 #

Trenton's DAEWOO/DSME brass are still putting lipstick on the taxpayers' $61 million deceased pig:
http://thechronicleherald.ca/business/140181-optimism-persists-at-dstn

 

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