Minister Takes Province's Energy Plan for Lowest, Fairest Electricity Rates to Antigonish

Energy Minister Charlie Parker was in Antigonish today, Feb. 21, to share details of government's energy plan for the lowest, fairest electricity rates for Nova Scotians at an event sponsored by the Antigonish Chamber of Commerce.

This is his second stop on a tour across the province to discuss the energy plan for addressing electricity rates, which he said can be summed up in five words: local, reliable, green, tax-free and efficient.

"It is great to be able to speak to Nova Scotians in their communities about issues that are foremost in their minds and ways to address them," said Mr. Parker. "At the event in Bridgewater yesterday, we heard from a lot of people who, like all Nova Scotians, are concerned about electricity rates."

"We have a realistic, forward-thinking, innovative, competitive, made-in Nova Scotia plan to ensure Nova Scotians pay the lowest, fairest electricity rates possible, now and in the future, and that is what we are talking to Nova Scotians about."

Nova Scotia's energy plan for lowest fairest rates is already working and being felt across the province, including the benefit to homeowners of the removal of the provincial portion of the HST on home heating.

Energy-related projects in the Antigonish region include several Communities Feed-in Tariff (COMFIT) Projects in the Guysborough area:

• five 50-kilowatt turbines operated by the Municipality of the District of Guysborough – three in Middle Melford and two in Goldboro
• three turbines operated by Celtic Current in Mulgrave – two 50 kilowatt and one 2.3 megawatt
• a 50-kilowatt turbine operated by the Town of Mulgrave.

Each megawatt of energy produced through COMFIT results in $2 million to $3 million of economic activity in the local community.

Warden Lloyd Hines of the Municipality of the District of Guysborough said that COMFIT has helped create the right conditions in his community to generate their own clean electricity while creating jobs and helping the environment.

"From a rural community perspective, we must take every opportunity to generate local investment opportunities through renewable energy projects and programs such as COMFIT," said Mr. Hines. "Our community is very committed to generating our own clean electricity that will also help the environment and create local jobs."

Guysborough will see more wind energy development in the future. The Municipality of the District of Guysborough is leading the development of the 13.8-megawatt Sable Wind Project located near Canso, one of three large wind energy projects in the province. In total, the three projects are expected to result in $200 million of new investment.

Mr. Parker and Energy deputy minister Murray Coolican also provided information and an overview of the Muskrat Falls/Maritime Link project.

"This project is an important part of our energy plan for the lowest fairest rates for Nova Scotians," said Mr. Parker. "It provides price stability on that block of power for 35 years and it gives us two connections to the North American grid, which improves reliability and promotes competition.

"It will create jobs and economic development, and it enables further Atlantic energy co-operation. It is the best and lowest long-term cost option for the province to meet federal environmental requirements."