Wind Power

Community Opposition in
Nova Scotia
Agenda
 Provincial Targets
 Progress
 Situation in Nova Scotia
 Situation in Other Jurisdictions
 Community Based Projects
 Where’s the Support?
 Barriers and Reasons for Opposition
 Next Steps
 Concluding Vision
Provincial Targets
 5% of 2001 energy production levels in new
renewable energy by 2010

 10% of 2001 energy production levels in new

renewable energy by 2013

 18.5% combined new and old renewable

energy production by 2013

 Wind integration study: grid can support 20%

renewable energy
Progress
 Current installed RE capacity: 60MW
 Power purchase agreements: 245MW
Situation in Nova Scotia
 Request for Proposals
 Highly competitive process
 Restrictive to small and
medium scale projects

 Standard Offer Contract

 Price too low

 Net Metering
 Too small project limit
 Usage only allowed on
generating site
 No payment for surplus
power
Pubnico Point Wind Farm
 Situation in Other Jurisdictions
Ontario
 Standard Offer Contract

Europe
 Feed in tariff
 Quota system

Wind Energy Generated in 2003

Feed in tariff pricing system Quota pricing system
Germany 14 609 MW Great Britain 649 MW
Denmark 3 110 MW Ireland 186 MW
Spain 6 202 MW France 239 MW
Community Based
 Benefits
 economic prosperity
 employment opportunities
 stable and affordable source of energy
 community input and consultation
 acceptance of renewable energy
 beneficial local relationships
Where’s the support?
Prince Edward Island

INVESTING IN OUR FUTURE -- GRADE 1 STUDENT TO RECEIVE

FIRST BOND FOR THE EASTERN KINGS WIND FARM
Where’s the support?
Samso Islands, Denmark
 Minister of
Environment and
Energy sponsored a
renewable energy
contest
 Energy cooperatives
 Seminars on wind
power
 Energy efficiency
 Grassroots movement
Where’s the support?
State of New York
 Code of ethics
 Task force
 Signed by First Wind and Noble
Environmental Power
Barriers and Reasons for
Opposition
 Lack of government support
 No directness of benefits
 Current development system
 Community opposition

Cape Breton
Barriers and Reasons
for Opposition
 Community
consultation

 Environmental
Assessment
Process

 Siting

 Turbine impacts
 Barriers and Reasons for Opposition
Turbine Impacts
 Aviation safety  Road and
 Noise, infrasound construction traffic
and amplitude  Visual impact
modulation (AM)  Blade throw
 Oil spill
 Loss in property  Erosion
values  Destruction of
 Fire vegetation and
 Ice throw habitat
 Bird and bat kills  Shadow flicker
 Electromagnetic
interference  Structural failure
Possible Next Steps
Increase Opportunities
for Community Wind Projects
 Support community based projects

 Make changes to the Standard Offer

Contract

 Make changes to the Net Metering

Program

 Implement a Feed in Tariff

Possible Next Steps
Regulate Wind Companies

 Support the creation of municipal by-laws

 Union of Nova Scotia Municipalities: Model
Wind Turbine Bylaws and Best Practices for
Nova Scotia Municipalities

 Set Provincial standards

 Enforce a code of ethics

Next Steps
Increase Opportunities for Public Input
 Minimal community consultation standards
 Wind Atlas
HRM Wind Map
Concluding Vision:

To increase Nova Scotia’s renewable

energy development in such a way that
maximizes community benefits through a
standardized planning process and
guaranteed, competitive pricing.
Interviews
 Alice Power – Pugwash Area resident
 Bob Williams – Nova Scotia Cooperatives Council
 Dan Roscoe – Scotian WindFields
 Don Regan – Town of Berwick Electric Commission
 James Taylor – Nova Scotia Power
 Jim Milner – Amherst Area resident
 Judith and Nora Peach – Digby Area resident
 Judy Lipp – Toronto Renewable Energy Cooperative
 Peggy Cameron – Black River Wind Project
 Peggy Crawford – Union of Nova Scotia Municipalities
 Scott McCoombs – Department of Energy
 Resources
 Digby Turbine by-law
 HRM Wind Energy Generation Master Plan
 HRM Wind Map
 Nova Scotia Renewable Energy Standard
 Nova Scotia Environmental Goals and Sustainable Prosperity Act
 Nova Scotia Wind Integration Study
 Nova Scotia Wind Atlas
 Model Wind Turbine Bylaws and Best Practices for Nova Scotia Municipalities
 Pathways to Sustainable Energy Prosperity in Nova Scotia
 European Wind Energy Association
 Government of Prince Edward Island website
 Ontario Sustainable Energy Association
 Rochester Democrat & Chronicle – It’s time to start policing the wind companies
 The New Yorker – The Island in the Wind
 National Post – Wind Chill: Losing the PR battle over wind power
 Islanders for Safe Transmission of Power
 A Problem with Wind Power – Eric Rossenbloom
 Centre for Policy Studies – Wind Chill
 Wind Energy Report: Views of Residents of PEI and Visitors to PEI
 US Department of Energy – Wind Energy for Rural Economic Development
 The Noise Association – An investigation into wind farms and noise
 Skypower website
 Sequoia Power website
 Scotian Windfields website
 The Development of Renewable Electricity Policy in the Province of Ontario – University of Waterloo
 Energy Security in Nova Scotia – Larry Hughes
 Achieving Local Benefits: Policy Options for Community Energy in Nova Scotia – Judy Lipp
 C-Free Power website
 Toronto Renewable Energy Co-operative
 The Health Effects of Magnetic Fields Generated by Wind Turbines