Will N.S. wind energy be used by Nova Scotians?

Their six page submission makes several references to the Digby Neck wind farm and statements made by Barry Zwicker, developer of the project.

Zwicker, CEO of Scotian Windfields has repeatedly stated that homes in Digby County will be powered by the 20 wind turbines his company will build on Digby Neck.

Margaret Murphy, spokesperson for Nova Scotia Power says the wind energy produced on Digby Neck will go onto the Nova Scotia grid. “Although the flow of electrons can’t be strictly controlled, power tends to be used close to its point of origin, so Zwicker is right,” says Murphy.

Both Zwicker and Murphy say that renewable energy produced in Nova Scotia stays in Nova Scotia. “Nova Scotia Power is purchasing it to meet the 2010 and 2013 renewable standards set by the provincial government,” says Murphy.

In its six-page submission to the energy board, the Sierra Club points out that, on July 24, Nova Scotia Power applied for a license to export energy to the United States.

Mark Dittrick, the club’s conservation chair, says the New England states are eager to purchase green energy, and right now Nova Scotians have no assurance wind power and tidal power won’t be exported from the province.

According to Dittrick, the New England states are willing to pay a premium for renewable energy because they can use it to satisfy the standards that have been set for them.

He points out that earlier this year, Emera, Nova Scotia Power’s parent company, announced its intention to partner with National Grid on the development of the Northeast Energy Link transmission connection. Along with Spectra Energy, the two companies are working to evaluate the feasibility of a new electric transmission line from northern Maine and Maritime Canada to supply energy to the southern New England market.

According to Emera’s Mar. 19 press release, “The Northeast Energy Link would provide the New England market with new access to a portfolio of existing and future renewable generation developments in both northern Maine and Atlantic Canada. This would provide reliable and cost-effective electricity to the growing New England market and assist state governments in achieving their environmental objectives.”

The Sierra Club document includes seven recommendations:

Recommendation #1: Any part of any power purchase agreement between a renewable energy developer and Nova Scotia Power Incorporated bearing on NSPI's ability to export any or all of the power generated by the development should be made available to the public.

Recommendation #2: The nature of a "community-owned renewable energy company" such as Scotian WindFields should be clearly defined in terms that are easily understood by residents of a community hosting a renewable energy project and such companies should be required to accurately communicate that information to community members.

Recommendation #3: Issuance of a blanket permit that would allow for the export of tidal energy from the Bay of Fundy should be denied NSPI until we "fully understand the potential environmental effects and technical challenges of developing TISEC [Tidal In-Stream Energy Conversion] project in the Bay of Fundy" and the current gaps in scientific knowledge are closed.

Recommendation #4: A moratorium should be placed on the export of tidal power, and wind power as well, until provincial targets for renewable energy generation are met.

Recommendation #5: The National Energy Board should examine the various factors influencing and encouraging the export of renewable energy from Atlantic Canada to the United States, especially the obvious driving force that is the development of the Northeast Energy Link, in which its parent, Emera, is a participant.

Recommendation #6: Consideration should be given to setting a limit in the permit, similar to NEB's proposed limit on the percentage of gas exportable from Irving Oil's Canaport LNG project (see "No limit on energy," New Brunswick Telegraph-Journal, May 31, 2008), on the percentage of renewable energy produced in Nova Scotia that can be exported.

Recommendation #7: We encourage the National Energy Board to recommend to the Governor in Council that public hearings on the issuance of this permit be held. The Atlantic Canada Chapter of Sierra Club Canada would very much appreciate an opportunity to participate.