It takes a Village to
Build a Windmill:
Community Renewables’ role in Nova Scotia’s transition from King Coal to Cleaner Energy
November 11, 2016
Paul Black
© Fisherwick Collaborations Inc. 2016
Where Our
Story is Set • One of
Canada’s four
founding
provinces
• Population ~ 1
million
• Major
industries: - Resources
- PSE
- Government
• Peak electrical
demand
(winter) ~2200
MW
© Fisherwick Collaborations Inc. 2016
Nova Scotia’s Journey
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Pace of Change is Quickening
Around the World
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But before you set off....
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Strategy Goal = 100% renewable energy in
Barbados
What “job(s)”are you hiring a sustainable transition
strategy to do? © Fisherwick Collaborations Inc. 2016
FROM KING COAL TO THE BEST
GREENHOUSE GAS TRAJECTORY IN
CANADA IN UNDER A DECADE
Nova Scotia A Case Study
© Fisherwick Collaborations Inc. 2016
Nova Scotia ~2005: A Standing
Start
The Policy & Politics
• Vertically-integrated,
monopoly electrical
utility
• ‘Pocketbook’ issues
front & centre for
public
• Commodity
fluctuations
• Environmental
consciousness
increasing
Electricity Supply
© Fisherwick Collaborations Inc. 2016
© Fisherwick Collaborations Inc. 2016
Liberals
All Party Support
COMFIT:
The
Program The Parameters
• Distribution connect
(no additional
transmission build-out
costs)
• Secure financing -
fixed price through
FIT rate, allow private
sector to own up to
49% to facilitate cost
of capital
• Multiple sources of
generation - wind,
hydro, forest
biomass; *but not
solar*
• Soft ceiling of
available generation
~100 MW
© Fisherwick Collaborations Inc. 2016
COMFIT: Who is Eligible
• First Nations/Indigenous bands
• Municipal governments
• Universities
• CEDIFs
• Non-profits
© Fisherwick Collaborations Inc. 2016
COMFIT: How to Power
It • Wind energy: ≤50kW (w/ 5MW cap);
primary focus >50kW
• Biomass combined heat and power
(Not restricted to eligible groups
where heat is used by owner)
• Small-scale in-stream tidal energy
• Run-of-river hydroelectric
© Fisherwick Collaborations Inc. 2016
COMFIT: Results In Brief
Program “closed” effective Summer 2015
Approximately ~204.6 MW awarded to 105
sponsors - not all will ultimately be
commissioned
Technologies = vast majority wind projects, +
• 16 Biomass
• 3 Tidal
• 1 Hydro
Project sizes range from 0.05 to 7.05 MW
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Results: Who Generates
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Transition Impact = Among the
Most Renewables in North
America
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Transition Impact:
GHG Reductions = Best in
Canada
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Transition Impact:
Electricity Rates
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Silver buckshot v. Silver bullet
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Fossil Fuels
Wind, Hydro, Solar, Biomass, Tidal, Natural Gas, Coal
© Fisherwick Collaborations Inc. 2016
© Fisherwick Collaborations Inc. 2016
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