Framework Stresses Greenhouse Gas Reduction, Renewable Energy

Nova Scotia wants to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 1.5 million tonnes annually and add more renewable electrical generation to the power grid. The objectives are set out in "Smart Choices for Cleaner Energy...the Green Energy Framework," released today, Oct. 20.

"Nova Scotia's energy system needs in excess of $3 billion of investment to make it more sustainable," said Energy Minister Cecil Clarke. "This framework is a call to all Nova Scotians and to the federal government to work together to achieve greater price stability and environmental responsibility in our energy supply, particularly electricity."

The planning framework says the province should develop a vision for future energy use that relies more on energy efficiency, renewable and alternative energy, and developing cleaner energy technologies. It says this will allow continued economic growth and will help Nova Scotia take the best advantage of federal cost-sharing opportunities. The federal government's Project Green proposes as much as $4 billion nationwide for reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

Nova Scotia's proposals include an additional 280 megawatts of new wind power generation, in addition to the 100 megawatts already planned for the province. The document also says it is possible to develop a 20 megawatt biomass-fuelled generating facility in northern Nova Scotia; and to realize an additional 50 megawatts of energy by adding heat recovery capacity to Nova Scotia Power facilities. A further 50 megawatts of energy demand could be met through a community heating and electrical co-generation project in Halifax Regional Municipality.

Government is also proposing long-term programs to encourage more energy conservation by both individuals and by government, and to develop more sustainable transportation options for Nova Scotians.

"We want to build on the Smart Energy Choices program we announced last week to help Nova Scotians make the transition to the new realities of energy pricing," said Mr. Clarke. "We need to use our energy resources better to help stabilize pricing and to reduce the production of greenhouse gases and other pollution."

Greenhouse gases are widely believed to be the cause of climate change. They come from many sources but, in Nova Scotia, most greenhouse gas emissions come from electrical generation and from transportation.

One option available for managing greenhouse gas reductions is to buy a financial instrument called an "emissions credit" from a country that has already exceeded its reduction targets.

"The cheapest way to manage the greenhouse gas problem is to buy emission credits, but that only rewards someone else's reductions," Mr. Clarke explained. "A goal of this framework is to meet the emissions challenge without just buying credits ... in other words, have Nova Scotians benefit from the investments that have to be made."

The planning framework says that more research is needed to understand how climate change will affect Nova Scotia's way of life and how government conducts its business. "We need to be able to plan for the health and safety consequences of climate change, and we can't do that until we have a solid understanding of what changes it might bring," Mr. Clarke explained.

The province is currently negotiating cost-sharing details for the initiatives with the federal government. "Rising energy prices and greenhouse gas emissions are national problems requiring national solutions," Mr. Clarke said, "I have every confidence that the federal government will look favourably on our proposals for implementing this solution in Nova Scotia."