New Electricity Act Means Cleaner Environment, More Choice

ENERGY--New Electricity Act Means Cleaner Environment, More Choice

A new law will ensure that more of Nova Scotia's electricity comes from renewable resources. The Electricity (2004) Act was passed this week and requires resellers of electricity to ensure that a minimum portion of the supply comes from renewable resources.

Energy Minister Cecil Clarke said the act will make renewable sources of energy more attractive to developers. "Nova Scotia offers many excellent locations for using the wind to generate electricity," he said. "The new act will ensure a predictable market for developers who want to use this resource."

Regulations to be made under the act will state that, by 2010, five per cent of Nova Scotia's electricity supply must come from renewable resource generating capacity that was built after 2001.

The act implements four of the recommendations of the Electricity Marketplace Governance Committee. In 2003, the joint government- industry committee made 89 recommendations on how the province could implement the electricity provisions of Nova Scotia's Energy Strategy.

The act also requires Nova Scotia Power Incorporated (NSPI) to establish a tariff or toll for carrying power from other generators over its transmission system. The tariff would be subject to approval by the Utilities and Review Board, which has already received an application for the tariff from NSPI.

Six municipally operated electrical companies will now be able to buy power from generators other than Nova Scotia Power because of the new act.

"This act advances the commitment we made in our Energy Strategy to ensure Nova Scotians have a secure, reliable, affordable and sustainable electricity supply," Mr. Clarke said.