There will be more wind turbines appearing on Nova Scotia’s skyline this year. In fact, driving along the Trans-Canada Highway at Exit 19, near Alma, now offers a sight not often seen in our province - wind turbines are sprouting in plain view from the highway.
Nova Scotia Power and independent wind producers are constructing 60 turbines in the Truro and New Glasgow areas.
“The upcoming wind projects will significantly contribute to our plan to bring more green energy to Nova Scotians,” said Robin McAdam, executive vice president of sustainability for Nova Scotia Power.
In September, NS Power filed an application with the Utility and Review Board (UARB) to develop a 50.6 megawatt wind farm on Nuttby Mountain, 20 kilometers north of Truro. While a decision is not expected until later this year, the Board has given NS Power the green light to move ahead with critical work such as ordering the turbines.
The 22 turbine project is set to start generating power by the end of 2010. The project has the potential to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in Nova Scotia by over 100,000 tonnes annually. Earlier this year, NS Power bought the development rights for the site from an independent developer. The project was re-engineered in an attempt to provide the most value to Nova Scotians for the energy produced. This has resulted in electricity that will be produced at a lower cost than what was proposed by the original developer.
In addition to the Nuttby Mountain project, there are two more renewable wind energy projects underway in Nova Scotia. RMS Energy is currently building a 51 megawatt farm on Dalhousie Mountain in Pictou County – able to be seen from the highway – and a six megawatt wind farm with four turbines near Maryvale, 15 kilometers north of Antigonish.
“Whether it’s through contracts with independent power producers, or projects we build ourselves, we’re committed meeting government targets and public expectations on renewable energy,” said McAdam.
The added energy will help NS Power reach the provincial government’s renewable requirements of 25 per cent of Nova Scotia’s power coming from renewable sources by 2015. Right now, between 10 and 12 per cent of our electricity comes from renewable sources – a mix of mostly hydro and some wind.
There are currently 41 wind turbines in Nova Scotia, providing enough electricity to power about 17,000 homes. The addition of the Nuttby Mountain project and developments of other independent wind producers will add an additional 240 megawatts to the power grid. This will be five times the energy produced by wind today and deliver enough electricity to supply about 60,000 homes. Cleanenergy BC, a blog that discusses renewable energy and related policy issues, celebrated the progress that has been made in developing renewables in Nova Scotia in a recent post. The post also highlighted the achievement by RMS Energy to have their project be the first to come online. | 
Turbines operating in view from Highway 102.
Greenhill Provincial Park's look off, which on a clear day provides an excellent view of RMS Energy's Dalhousie Mountain wind farm
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