CBRM company expects 'fierce competition' to build solar-power gardens under new program - Action News
Home WebMail Sunday, November 10, 2024, 10:34 PM | Calgary | 0.3°C | Regions Advertise Login | Our platform is in maintenance mode. Some URLs may not be available. |
Nova Scotia

CBRM company expects 'fierce competition' to build solar-power gardens under new program

Cape Breton Regional Municipality may soon be home to several large solar panel gardens, thanks to Nova Scotia's newly announced community solar program.

Companies working on several projects that could power up to 2,200 homes, provide discounted power bills

Pink and green flowers bloom in the sunshine in the foreground while a brown brick and blue glass building with a city hall sign and crest are in the background.
Several large solar-power gardens are being proposed for Cape Breton Regional Municipality under a newly announced Nova Scotia community solar program. (Tom Ayers/CBC)

Cape Breton Regional Municipality may soon be home to several large solar-panel gardens, thanks to Nova Scotia's newly announced community solar program.

TriMac Engineering of Sydney has partnered with Ontario developer SolarBankto develop a 10-megawatt solar garden in the rural community of Enon, which is near Loch Lomond towardthe border with Richmond County,and a seven-megawatt project near the Mayflower Mall in Sydney.

Joel MacNeil, a principal with TriMac, said the provincial program is attracting attention from the business community.

"We're not exactly sure of the competition out there for community solar, but we think it is going to be fierce competition," he told CBRM council Tuesday.

CBRM staff said there is at least one other company working on a proposal and more may be on the way.

Under the program, which was announced March 1, developers build a solar garden and sell the electricity to Nova Scotia Power.

A man with a beard and moustache wearing a tan blazer with a light coloured shirt leans on a desk in front of a microphone and computer screen.
TriMac Engineering principal Joel MacNeil says two proposed solar projects for CBRM could power up to 2,200 homes and provide discounted electricity bills for subscribers. (Tom Ayers/CBC)

That helps the utility green the grid and helps pay for the infrastructure.

At the same time, ratepayerswho cannot install their own solar panels can subscribeat no cost andbuy the power at a discount, receiving a credit of twocents per kilowatt hour on their bill.

MacNeil said the Loch Lomond project proposed by SolarBank and TriMac could power 1,300 average homes in Nova Scotia, or enough to make all of the homes around the rural Loch Lomond area net zero.

The seven-megawatt project could power up to 900 homes.

TriMac and SolarBank are currently planning to build the projects without any government money and expect to apply for approval from the province by June.

If approved, they could be under construction by next year, MacNeil said.

He and SolarBank chief development officer Tracy Zheng said public input is being gathered in both communities. While residents around Enon are on board, the Sydney project needs more work to satisfy area residents' concerns about setbacks from existing homes and access to Grand Lake Road.

He said the companies are considering several other possible locations, as well.

A woman with a dark blazer and light coloured blouse speaks in front of a microphone and computer screen.
SolarBank chief development officer Tracy Zheng says developers are proposing fixed solar panels because motorized ones that track the sun don't work in snow and ice. (Tom Ayers/CBC)

Zheng said some people were concerned about the potential for noiseif the panels are motorized to track the sun as its position changes through the day.

But she said they are only proposing fixed panelsbecause snow and ice can interfere with motorized tracking.

Mayor Amanda McDougall said under the provincial program, developers have to enlist municipal support.

"I think that's a great idea," she said. "It keeps us all in the loop of what's happening in the community, and I foresee more of these presentations coming to council."

A woman in a colourful pattered blouse with glasses and red hair sits behind a computer monitor and points with a pen.
Mayor Amanda McDougall says solar gardens represent good development because they don't bother neighbours and add to the availability of renewable energy. (Tom Ayers/CBC)

Councilunanimously supported the two projects. McDougall said it's a good deal for everyone.

"This is good development. It's clean development. It's quiet. It's nothing that is obtrusive to your community and at the end of the day, it provides relief to residents potentially who want to participate in these projects."

MORE TOP STORIES

Add some good to your morning and evening.

Get the latest top stories from across Nova Scotia in your inbox every weekday.

...

The next issue of CBC Nova Scotia newsletter will soon be in your inbox.

Discover all CBC newsletters in theSubscription Centre.opens new window

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Google Terms of Service apply.