Government has approved 14 Community Feed-In Tariff (COMFIT) program projects helping communities enjoy locally generated clean and renewable electricity.

Energy Minister Andrew Younger announced today, Dec. 20, the projects can proceed to the next phase of development.

This may include environmental assessments, an archaeological resource impact assessment and a Mi’kmaq ecological knowledge study, as well as community discussions.

“This is the first step towards Nova Scotia communities, families and businesses benefiting from projects that will produce an abundance of clean, renewable energy. This is energy that will be used in our communities, by our communities, for years to come,” said Mr. Younger.

Projects announced today are:
— Municipality of the District of Digby: 0.06-megawatt biomass project in Hassets
— Watts Wind Energy Inc.: 7.2-megawatt project in Otter
Lake,Halifax Regional Municipality
— Scotian Wind:
      — 0.8-megawatt large wind project in West Green Harbour,
         Municipality of the District of Shelburne
      — six-megawatt large wind project in Hants County
      — 1.99-megawatt large wind project in Yarmouth District
      — two-megawatt large wind project in East Hants District
— Celtic Current: 1.5-megawatt large wind project
in Goldboro,Guysborough Co.
— Courthouse Hill Farm: 0.5-megawatt biomass project in
Shubenacadie
— Town of Amherst: 0.05-megawatt small wind project in Amherst.
— Municipality of the County of Pictou: three 0.05-megawatt
small wind projects in Riverton.
— Hill Acres Farms: 0.25-megawatt biomass project in Millville,
Kings Co.
— Smart Tower Energy: six-megawatt biomass project in Kentville.

COMFIT provides eligible groups an established price per kilowatt hour (kWh) for projects producing electricity from renewable resources such as wind, biomass, in-stream tidal and run-of-the-river hydroelectric developments. Eligible groups include municipalities, First Nations, co-operatives, universities, community economic development funds and not-for-profit groups.

Groups can apply at www.nsrenewables.ca .

Source: Release