Wind Power

Community Opposition in

Nova Scotia

Agenda

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

5% of 2001 energy production levels in new renewable energy by 2010

10% of 2001 energy production levels in new renewable energy by 2013

18.5% combined new and old renewable energy production by 2013

Wind integration study: grid can support 20% renewable energy

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

Situation in Nova Scotia

Request for Proposals Highly competitive process Restrictive to small and

medium scale projects

Standard Offer Contract Price too low

Net Metering Too small project limit Usage only allowed on

generating site No payment for surplus

power

Pubnico Point Wind Farm

Situation in Other Jurisdictions

Standard Offer Contract

Ontario

Europe Feed in tariff Quota system

Wind Energy Generated in 2003Feed in tariff pricing system Quota pricing systemGermany 14 609 MW Great Britain 649 MW

Denmark 3 110 MW Ireland 186 MW

Spain 6 202 MW France 239 MW

Community Based

Benefits 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

Minister of Environment and Energy sponsored a renewable energy contest

Energy cooperatives Seminars on wind

power Energy efficiency Grassroots movement

Where’s the support?

Samso Islands, Denmark

Where’s the support?

Code of ethics Task force Signed by First Wind and Noble

Environmental Power

State of New York

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

Cape Breton

Barriers and Reasons for Opposition

Community consultation

Environmental Assessment Process

Siting

Turbine impacts

Aviation safety Noise, infrasound

and amplitude modulation (AM)

Oil spill Loss in property

values Fire Ice throw Bird and bat kills Electromagnetic

interference

Road and construction traffic

Visual impact Blade throw Erosion Destruction of

vegetation and habitat

Shadow flicker Structural failure

Turbine Impacts

Barriers and Reasons for Opposition

Increase Opportunities for Community Wind Projects

Support community based projects

Make changes to the Standard Offer Contract

Make changes to the Net Metering Program

Implement a Feed in Tariff

Possible Next Steps

Regulate Wind Companies

Support the creation of municipal by-laws Union of Nova Scotia Municipalities: Model

Wind Turbine Bylaws and Best Practices for Nova Scotia Municipalities

Set Provincial standards

Enforce a code of ethics

Possible Next Steps

Increase Opportunities for Public Input Minimal community consultation standards Wind Atlas

Next Steps

HRM Wind Map

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.

Concluding Vision:

Interviews

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

Resources 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