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Nova Scotia Community FIT Program – COMFIT – accepting applications

September 21, 2011 | By Anthony Capkun



September 20, 2011 – On the first day of applications, more than 60 project proposals were received from more than a dozen community groups for a “made-in-Nova Scotia” initiative to encourage community participation in renewable energy projects.

The Community-Based Feed-in Tariff (COMFIT) concept was introduced in the 2010 Renewable Electricity Plan to help reduce greenhouse gas emissions, provide a secure supply of clean energy at stable prices and create jobs. The program began accepting applications yesterday.

“It’s exciting to see this kind of response for these community green energy projects,” said energy minister Charlie Parker. “It allows for broader participation in renewable energy, resulting in projects that benefit, and are rooted in, communities.”

Almost 100 community projects are registered with the department from a variety of eligible groups. All projects must pre-registered to be checked for eligibility. COMFIT allows eligible groups to receive an established price per kilowatt hour (kWh) for projects producing electricity from certain renewable resources. The feed-in tariff rates were established by the Utilities and Review Board in September.

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Projects can include: wind, biomass, in-stream tidal and run-of-the river tidal developments. Eligible groups include municipalities, First Nations, co-operatives and not-for-profit groups.

The province expects the COMFIT program to help it reach its renewable electricity targets of 25% renewable electricity by 2015 and 40% by 2020. It also expects 100 megawatts to be produced through COMFIT.

For more information and to apply, visit www.nsrenewables.ca.


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