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There have been complaints for years that Nova Scotia Power controls a monopoly over the province’s energy supply – but that is about to change.
Customers in Nova Scotia will soon have a choice of electricity providers.
“It’s time. I think it’s time, people are looking for choice. They’re looking for competition in the market,” said Premier Tim Houston.
Renewall Energy Inc. has become the first company to offer an alternative following an announcement on Nova Scotia’s South Shore Thursday morning.
“Renewall’s rate will be competitive with Nova Scotia Power’s rates with the benefit that they will be locked in over a long-term,” said Dan Roscoe, president of Renewall Energy.
The company has been working on the Mersey River Wind Project in Queens County for years.
According to a news release, it is one of the largest clean energy developments in Nova Scotia. The project has 33 turbines that will produce approximately 148.5 megawatts of renewable energy – enough to power tens of thousands of homes and businesses.
“This is clean energy built and produced in Nova Scotia for Nova Scotians,” said Roscoe. “The jobs, the savings, and the economic benefits stay in our communities. Everyone is looking for affordable, renewable energy, and now can find it right here.”
The project is still under construction. It will employ more than 200 workers at its peak. When up and running, the project is expected to avoid nearly 220,000 tonnes of emissions annually.
The federal government backed the project through a $206 million dollar loan from the Canadian Infrastructure Bank.
“I am really proud to see this project produce almost 150 MW of zero emission electricity farm along the Mersey River, which will include installation of 33 wind turbines and related grid infrastructure,” says Federal infrastructure minister, Gregor Robertson.
The minister of energy and natural resources Tim Hodson also committed $5 million in funding to support the next stage of the province’s offshore wind project, known as WindWest.
“It is truly a world class resource. It has got some of the best capacities anywhere in the world, and if we can harness that that energy using the best technology in the world, it’s an opportunity to bring energy intensive industry right here to Nova Scotia,” says Hodson.
“Nova Scotia in particular is blessed with great onshore wind and an exceptional offshore wind resource. So this is one of the first steps in developing that resource.”
Roscoe said they have already had customers sign up. Phase one of the Mersey River Wind Project will deliver power to Nova Scotians in early 2027.
