Competitive procurement will add 2000+ GWh of wind energy to Nova Scotia’s grid

January 28, 2025 – Launched in December 2023, Nova Scotia’s Green Choice Program has attracted 11 large-scale customers for renewable electricity, including public institutions and some large industrial and commercial businesses.

“The Green Choice Program is the single largest addition of clean electricity and the single largest reduction in greenhouse gas emissions in Nova Scotia’s history,” said Energy Minister Trevor Boudreau. “Our province has incredible onshore and offshore wind speeds. Now is the time to use it to our advantage.”

Six wind farms were chosen through a competitive independent procurement to support the program. They will start generating more than 2000 GWh of electricity per year by the end of 2028, and increase renewable electricity on the grid for program customers by more than 12%, and nearly 7% for all ratepayers.

“The Canadian Renewable Energy Association congratulates its members and Indigenous partners for their successful bids in the Nova Scotia Green Choice Program procurement,” said CanREA’s Jean Habel. “We are especially pleased that Nova Scotia’s RFP was expanded from 350 MW to 625 MW.”

Each wind farm is co-owned by a private developer in partnership with one or more Mi’kmaw communities in Nova Scotia:

• Yellow Birch, Pictou County: SWEB in partnership with Glooscap.
• Melvin Lake, Hants and Halifax counties: ABO Energy Canada in partnership with Eskasoni, Potlotek, We’koqma’q L’nue’kati, Wagmatook.
• Rhodena, Inverness County: ABO Energy Canada in partnership with Eskasoni, Potlotek, We’koqma’q L’nue’kati, Wagmatook.
• Blueberry Acres, Cumberland County: SWEB in partnership with Glooscap.
• Sugar Maple, Pictou County: SWEB in partnership with Glooscap.
• Eigg Mountain, Antigonish County: Renewable Energy Systems Canada in partnership with Paq’tnkek, Pictou Landing.

The developers are investing about $73.5 million in social and economic benefits for communities where the wind farms are located, including training, skills development, capacity-building grants, and scholarships.

The province says the Green Choice Program will add more clean energy to the grid, bring more green jobs and investments to Nova Scotia, help stabilize power rates, and decrease GHG emissions.

About the Green Choice Program

The program is available to large-scale customers of Nova Scotia Power who pay their power bill directly to the utility (rather than through a landlord).

Customers must have an average energy load of 10,000 MWh per year over the past three years. Municipal electric utilities are excluded.

Nova Scotia Power will pay an average of $63.62 per MWh for electricity from the wind farms.

Green Choice Program customers include:

• Province of Nova Scotia. Government-owned buildings and operations, including public schools, most of Nova Scotia Health’s hospitals and health centres, IWK Health Centre, Nova Scotia Provincial Housing Agency.
• Government of Canada. Federal departments, agencies, Canada Post Crown facilities.
• Nova Scotia Universities and Colleges Power Purchasing Partnership. Dalhousie University (all campuses), Acadia University, Cape Breton University, Mount Saint Vincent University, Saint Mary’s University, University of Kings College, Université Sainte-Anne, Nova Scotia College of Art and Design.
• Nova Scotia Community College campuses.
• Halifax Regional Municipality.
• Halifax Water Commission.
• Cape Breton Regional Municipality.
• Halifax International Airport Authority.
• Walmart Canada Corp.
• Michelin North America (Canada) Inc.
• PSA Canada Ventures Ltd.

“The Green Choice Program is a significant step to helping us, and other Nova Scotian companies, access renewable energy,” said Michelin North America (Canada) president Andrew Mutch.