We carefully monitor emissions from our thermal generating stations. We want to know what they are emitting and in what amounts. We also use ambient air monitoring stations to keep track of how those emissions affect the quality of the air we breathe.
View detailed information on our emissions.
Nova Scotia Power operates its thermal generating stations in compliance with provincial government limits on emissions from our thermal (coal, oil and natural gas-fired) generating stations. This section contains details of those emissions limits.
- In August 2009 the province enacted limits on Nova Scotia Power’s greenhouse gas emissions beginning in 2010.
- The intention is to limit Nova Scotia Power's greenhouse gas emissions through a series of staged emission caps from an average of 9.6 million tonnes over 2010 and 2011 to 7.5 million tonnes by 2020.
- Caps on sulphur dioxide (SO2) emissions first came into effect in the mid-1990s. Nova Scotia Power’s original cap on SO2 emissions was 145,000 tonnes.
- In 2010, the cap was reduced to 72,500 tonnes. This is a 50 per cent reduction from the original cap.
- In August 2009 the Nova Scotia Department of Environment enacted a further cap reduction in 2015, down to 60,900 tonnes. This is a 58 per cent reduction from the original cap. These changes also included an additional reduction for 2020, down to 36,250. This is a 75 per cent reduction from the original cap.
- The year 2000 was used as a baseline for recording emissions for nitrogen oxides (NOx) caps. In 2000, Nova Scotia Power generating plants emitted 26,706 tonnes of NOx.
- The current cap began in 2009. It limits Nova Scotia Power’s NOx emissions to 21,365 tonnes. This is a 20 per cent reduction from the baseline year.
- The August 2009 changes include an additional reduction of the NOx cap in 2015 to 19,228 tonnes. This is a 10 per cent reduction from 2009 and a 28 per cent reduction from the baseline year. As well a further cap reduction in 2020 to 14,955 tonnes was enacted. This is a 30 per cent reduction and a 44 per cent reduction from the baseline year.
- A mercury cap has been in place since 2005. In 2010, the cap on Mercury emissions was reduced to 110 kg and will continue to be reduced in stages culminating in a cap of 65 kg in 2014.
View the Nova Scotia Department of Environment Discussion Paper: An Approach to Regulating Electricity Sector Greenhouse Gas and Air Pollutant Emissions in Nova Scotia (PDF).
View the Nova Scotia Air Quality Regulations
View the new Nova Scotia Greenhouse Gas Emissions Regulations
Find more information on the Province of Nova Scotia’s Renewable Energy Standards.