EverWind pitching up to 404 wind turbines in Guysborough County

A company planning to build a series of wind farms in Nova Scotia is offering more details of its ambitious next phase in Guysborough County, but many residents who attended recent information sessions are skeptical such a big project will ever get off the ground in the area.

EverWind is pitching what could be Nova Scotia's largest wind farm, and recently revealed ithopes to build up to 404 turbines across three locations in the county, which would easily dwarf similar projects elsewhere in the province.

The company hopes to use wind energy to produce green hydrogen and ammoniain Point Tupper, N.S. In addition to the hundreds of proposed wind turbines for Guysborough County, EverWindis first planning to build 80 of the structures whichareup to 125 metres in height with 80-metre blades at three locations in central Nova Scotia.

Brendan Chard, vice-president of power at EverWind, said there is precedent for thedevelopment size, citing examples in Texas and Quebec.

"What we're seeing is that as the technologies developed and become more economic and efficient, that people have started developing larger-scale windfarms," Chard said.

Residentsat the open house in Sherbrooke last weeksaid they suspectEverWindwill be similar to other area projects thatnever got off the ground or have stalled, such asthe abandoned GoldboroLNG project,a yet-to-open whale sanctuaryannounced in 2020, and a plan floated 10 years ago by a Chinese firm to build a resort.

'New ball game'

Canada's largest wind farm has 175 turbines and islocated northof Quebec City,according to afederal mapof commercial operations. The two largest wind farms operating in Nova Scotia have 34 turbines each.

The size of theEverWind project and possible environmental impactsconcernTori-Lynne Evans, who livesinManassette Lakenear one of theGuysborough sites.

"I think a lot of people would support wind farms that are 30 turbinesgenerating power for our grid," said Evans. "This is a whole new ball game."

Evans, like other Nova Scotians,is concerned about theend use of the wind energy.

EverWindanticipatesexporting hydrogen and ammoniato Europe. The company is also interested in the domestic market and recently signed a memorandum of understanding with Dartmouth-based Eastward Energy.

"There are sectors of the economy that are very difficult to decarbonize and they're very difficult to electrify," said Chard. "Heavy transportation, shipping, mining, for example, and hydrogen can be used as a fuel for those industries."

Thethreesites would beconnectedto the Point Tupperfacility through a transmission line crossing the Strait of Canso.

EverWind has installed a meteorological towerat the first site near St. Francis Harbour and Boylston that is slated to hold up to 84 turbines.The company plans to submit an environmental assessment for the first location thissummer.

The company is also starting field work at the second sitenear New Harbour, Larrys River and Goldboro,which could have up to 160 turbines.

The third site the lastto be developedstretches from areas near Port Bickertonon the Atlantic coastto the inland community of Aspen. Up to 160 turbines are proposed for thatarea, which straddles the district municipalities of Guysborough and St.Mary's.

EverWind anticipatesthe three locations will open in phases. Construction could begin in 2026 and all turbines areexpected be operational by early 2029.

The company has proposed a similar project in Newfoundland and Labrador, with upward of 450 turbines planned for the Burin Peninsula. That project has yet to clear the environmental assessment stage.

Wardens support project

"Council strongly supports growth and sees new business activity as an opportunity to create local benefits including employment opportunities that may resultfrom wind farm construction and operation," Greg Wier, warden of theSt. Mary's municipality, said in a statement.

EverWind estimates the St. Mary's municipality will receive$3.2 million each year in tax revenue.

Meanwhile, the Municipality of the District of Guysborough, where the bulk of the project is located, will receive approximately $14.3 million annually in tax revenue. The municipality hassigned a community benefit agreement promising $1,000 per megawatt of electricity capacity installed on top oftax revenue.

"I see hydrogen, wind as our fuel in the future," said Vernon Pitts, warden of theGuysboroughdistrict municipality. "The province, Canada, the world has to decide. Do we want green energy or do we not want it?"

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While EverWind is in discussion with private landowners in the area, the project is located primarily on Crown land.

"I think there's a huge potential for green energyin Nova Scotia and in this part of the province," said Greg Morrow, the MLA for Guysborough-Tracadie, in an interview at one of 11 open houses hosted by EverWind.

EverWind said there will be about 1,000 jobs during construction of theGuysborough County sites and up to 100 permanent positions during the 35-year lifespan of the project.

Scott Beaver, president of the St. Mary's River Association, said the organization does not yet support or opposethe project whichwould be thefirst commercial wind development in the municipality.

"In this day and age, it is important for us to find a balance," said Beaver. "This is definitely a greener project for the area than in the past. We also have to take into consideration the residents that live in the area and the ecological significance of the St. Marys [River] has and provides."

Beaver said the area has seen promises of jobs and tax revenue from industrial developments like Signal Gold'sopen pit mine in Goldboro, N.S. a project he opposes due to environmental concerns. The province gave theproject the green light in August2022, but Signal Gold hasyet to obtain all the necessary permits.

"We are maybe a little bit jaded," Beaver said."The companywill have to understand that."