Renewable Electricity Consultation Dates Set

NOTE: A schedule of meetings follows this release.

People are encouraged to provide input on draft regulations for the province's Renewable Electricity Plan at a series of meetings being held over the next several weeks.

The meetings are being hosted by regional development authorities, in conjunction with the Department of Energy.

The draft regulations outline how rates paid to community groups that generate renewable electricity will be set, and a special rate to support the next stage of tidal development. They also establish a renewable electricity administrator to choose the winning bids from independent power producers.

Earlier this spring, government introduced its plan to achieve 25 per cent renewable electricity by 2015, and set a goal of 40 per cent renewable electricity by 2020.

Written comments on the regulations can be submitted until July 23 at Department of Energy, 5151 George Street, Halifax B3J 3P7 or e-mailed to [email protected] .

To view the Renewable Electricity Plan, draft regulations, and the meeting schedule, visit www.gov.ns.ca/energy .

Following is a list of public meetings being held:

• June 15: Sydney, 10:30 a.m.-noon, Delta Sydney, 300 Esplanade
• June 15: Port Hawkesbury, 3-4:30 p.m., Port Hawkesbury Civic Center, 606 Reeves St.
• June 23: Truro, 8:30-10 a.m., Holiday Inn, 437 Prince St.
• June 23: Amherst, Noon to 1:30 p.m., Wandlyn Inn, 40 Havelock St.
• June 23: New Glasgow, 4:30-6 p.m., Summer Street Industries, 72 Park St.
• June 24: Bridgewater, 8:30-10 a.m., Days Inn, 216 North St.
• June 24: Liverpool, noon to 1:30 p.m., 63 Queens Place Dr.
• June 24: Yarmouth, 7-8:30 p.m., Rodd Grand Yarmouth, 417 Main St.
• June 25: Digby, 10-11:30 a.m., James Horsfall Building, Annapolis Basin Conference Centre, 761 Broadway Ave.
• June 25: Kentville, 2:30-4 p.m., Council Chambers of the Municipality of the County of Kings, 87 Cornwallis St.,
• June 28: Halifax, 7-8:30 p.m., Future Inns Halifax, 30 Fairfax Dr.
• June 29: Dartmouth, 3-4:30 p.m., Ramada Inn, 240 Brownlow Ave.
• July 6: Antigonish, 11-12:30 p.m., Keating Millenium Centre, St. Francis Xavier, Antigonish
• July 6: Guysborough, 2:30-4 p.m., Municipality of the District of Guysborough Council Chambers, 33 Pleasant St.
• July 8: Halifax (French session), Universite Sainte Anne, 1589 Walnut St.