Wind Power Community Opposition in Nova Scotia Agenda

Wind Power Community Opposition in Nova Scotia

Agenda l l l l l Provincial Targets Progress Situation in Nova Scotia Situation in Other Jurisdictions Community Based Projects Where’s the Support? Barriers and Reasons for Opposition Next Steps Concluding Vision

Provincial Targets l 5% of 2001 energy production levels in new renewable energy by 2010 l 10% of 2001 energy production levels in new renewable energy by 2013 l 18. 5% combined new and old renewable energy production by 2013 l Wind integration study: grid can support 20% renewable energy

Progress l l Current installed RE capacity: 60 MW Power purchase agreements: 245 MW

Situation in Nova Scotia l Request for Proposals l l l Standard Offer Contract l l Highly competitive process Restrictive to small and medium scale projects Price too low Net Metering l l l Too small project limit Usage only allowed on generating site No payment for surplus power Pubnico Point Wind Farm

Situation in Other Jurisdictions Ontario l Standard Offer Contract Europe l l Feed in tariff Quota system Wind Energy Generated in 2003 Feed in tariff pricing system Quota pricing system Germany 14 609 MW Great Britain 649 MW Denmark 3 110 MW Ireland 186 MW Spain 6 202 MW France 239 MW

Community Based l Benefits l l l economic prosperity employment opportunities stable and affordable source of energy community input and consultation acceptance of renewable energy beneficial local relationships

Where’s the support? Prince Edward Island INVESTING IN OUR FUTURE -- GRADE 1 STUDENT TO RECEIVE FIRST BOND FOR THE EASTERN KINGS WIND FARM

Where’s the support? Samso Islands, Denmark l l l Minister of Environment and Energy sponsored a renewable energy contest Energy cooperatives Seminars on wind power Energy efficiency Grassroots movement

Where’s the support? State of New York l l l Code of ethics Task force Signed by First Wind and Noble Environmental Power

Barriers and Reasons for Opposition l l Lack of government support No directness of benefits Current development system Community opposition Cape Breton

Barriers and Reasons for Opposition l Community consultation l Environmental Assessment Process l Siting l Turbine impacts

Barriers and Reasons for Opposition Turbine Impacts l l l l Aviation safety Noise, infrasound amplitude modulation (AM) Oil spill Loss in property values Fire Ice throw Bird and bat kills Electromagnetic interference l l l l Road and construction traffic Visual impact Blade throw Erosion Destruction of vegetation and habitat Shadow flicker Structural failure

Possible Next Steps Increase Opportunities for Community Wind Projects l Support community based projects l Make changes to the Standard Offer Contract l Make changes to the Net Metering Program l Implement a Feed in Tariff

Possible Next Steps Regulate Wind Companies l Support the creation of municipal by-laws l Union of Nova Scotia Municipalities: Model Wind Turbine Bylaws and Best Practices for Nova Scotia Municipalities l Set Provincial standards l Enforce a code of ethics

Next Steps Increase Opportunities for Public Input l l Minimal community consultation standards Wind Atlas

HRM Wind Map

Concluding Vision: To increase Nova Scotia’s renewable energy development in such a way that maximizes community benefits through a standardized planning process and guaranteed, competitive pricing.

Interviews l Alice Power – Pugwash Area resident l Bob Williams – Nova Scotia Cooperatives Council l Dan Roscoe – Scotian Wind. Fields l Don Regan – Town of Berwick Electric Commission l James Taylor – Nova Scotia Power l Jim Milner – Amherst Area resident l Judith and Nora Peach – Digby Area resident l Judy Lipp – Toronto Renewable Energy Cooperative l Peggy Cameron – Black River Wind Project l Peggy Crawford – Union of Nova Scotia Municipalities l Scott Mc. Coombs – Department of Energy

Resources l l l l l l l l Digby Turbine by-law HRM Wind Energy Generation Master Plan HRM Wind Map Nova Scotia Renewable Energy Standard Nova Scotia Environmental Goals and Sustainable Prosperity Act Nova Scotia Wind Integration Study Nova Scotia Wind Atlas Model Wind Turbine Bylaws and Best Practices for Nova Scotia Municipalities Pathways to Sustainable Energy Prosperity in Nova Scotia European Wind Energy Association Government of Prince Edward Island website Ontario Sustainable Energy Association Rochester Democrat & Chronicle – It’s time to start policing the wind companies The New Yorker – The Island in the Wind National Post – Wind Chill: Losing the PR battle over wind power Islanders for Safe Transmission of Power A Problem with Wind Power – Eric Rossenbloom Centre for Policy Studies – Wind Chill Wind Energy Report: Views of Residents of PEI and Visitors to PEI US Department of Energy – Wind Energy for Rural Economic Development The Noise Association – An investigation into wind farms and noise Skypower website Sequoia Power website Scotian Windfields website The Development of Renewable Electricity Policy in the Province of Ontario – University of Waterloo Energy Security in Nova Scotia – Larry Hughes Achieving Local Benefits: Policy Options for Community Energy in Nova Scotia – Judy Lipp C-Free Power website Toronto Renewable Energy Co-operative The Health Effects of Magnetic Fields Generated by Wind Turbines