February 28, 2012 – Earlier this week, Nova Scotia’s energy Minister Charlie Parker announced the latest round of Community-Feed-in Tariff approvals for renewable electricity projects proposed for Spiddle Hill, Wedgeport, Bayswater, Cheticamp and North Preston.

“It is important for us to celebrate our successes along the way during this energy transformation,” said Parker. “That’s why I’m pleased to announce that Nova Scotia Power has met, and slightly exceeded, our legislated renewable electricity target for 2011. We are also meeting our green-house gas reduction targets.”

Details of the projects:
• A 1.99-megawatt wind project in Wedgeport, near Yarmouth, owned by Scotian Wind, Scotian Windfields and WEB Wind Energy North America.
• A 2-megawatt wind project in Bayswater, near Chester, owned by Watts Wind Energy Inc., Brookfield Asset Management and Katalyst Wind.
• A 0.9-megawatt wind project in Cheticamp, Inverness Co., owned by Celtic Current and Zutphen Wind.
• A 4.6-megawatt wind project on Lake Major Road in North Preston, owned by the Halifax Regional Water Commission.
• A 50 kW wind project at the Spiddle Hill Wind Farm, owned by the Colchester-Cumberland Wind Field Community Economic Development Corporation.

The 2010 Renewable Electricity Plan introduced the COMFIT concept to help “provide a secure supply of clean energy at stable prices, build support for renewable energy projects and create jobs”.

COMFIT provides eligible groups an established price per kilowatt hour for projects producing electricity from renewable resources such as wind, biomass, in-stream tidal and run-of-the-river tidal developments. The feed-in tariff rates were established by the Utilities and Review Board in September. The province expects 100 megawatts to be produced through the COMFIT.

“More and more we are hearing good news about the government’s highly successful renewable energy policy,” said David Stevenson, president of Colchester-Cumberland Wind Field. “It promotes electricity from wind power, which reduces the burning of imported coal. Our company is a partner in the progressive harnessing of a sustainable and clean resource.”

More than 20 community groups have submitted 90+ locally based renewable energy development proposals under the COMFIT program. Potential applicants are encouraged to contact the COMFIT administrator at comfit@gov.ns.ca to discuss projects.

“The enthusiasm of communities coming together to develop local renewable electricity projects demonstrates the importance of the COMFIT program,” said Parker. “Communities are empowered to be creative and use local resources to create jobs, meet their energy needs and reduce our environmental footprint.”

CLICK HERE to apply or for more information on the program.