SYDNEY, N.S. — New plans to turn 10 per cent of Nova Scotia’s electricity into power from renewable sources could create 4,000 jobs in the province.
In a July 10 release, Premier Iain Rankin put out a request for proposals (RFP) for low-cost and innovative solutions to reduce the province’s greenhouse gas emissions by more 1 million tonnes each year.
The province is looking for 350 megawatts of electricity from renewables such as wind and solar, with wind now the cheapest source of electrical energy in Canada.
The premier also announced an aggressive new renewable electricity standard, requiring 80 per cent of Nova Scotia’s electricity to come from renewable resources by 2030.
“These accelerated targets will need a mix of solutions from electrification, decarbonizing and energy management,” said Beth Mason, president and CEO of the Verschuren Centre for Sustainability in Energy and the Environment. “It will also require a range of technology solutions from generation, storage and next generation materials.”
The release said the project will generate more than $550 million in construction activity in wind-rich areas like Guysborough, Pictou, Antigonish, Hants, Cumberland, and Colchester counties, creating 4,000 new jobs in rural Nova Scotia.
“This is about doing what’s right for ratepayers and keeping electricity affordable,” said Rankin. “It also ensures we mitigate risks for ratepayers and establish an energy sector that attracts business.
The requests for proposals are being administered by CustomerFirst Renewables. Other RFPs will be issued at a future date as the province is in negotiations with the Canada Infrastructure Bank to collaborate on innovative and competitive financing for bidders.
