Earlier today, the Nova Scotia Utility and Review Board (NSUARB) approved Halifax Water’s application to create a new District Energy System (DES) for the Cogswell redevelopment area in downtown Halifax.

With this approval, Halifax Water can create a new provincially regulated utility under the Public Utilities Act. This utility will focus on harnessing the energy resources of its existing wastewater infrastructure and use it to provide heating and cooling for new buildings built in the Cogswell area.

“We are pleased with the NSUARB’s decision and now move forward with the design and planning of the system. Leveraging funding provided by the Governments of Canada, Nova Scotia and HALIFAX, the DES will benefit our customers and help us collectively meet the HalifACT 2050 objectives,” says Louis de Montbrun, Acting General Manager and CEO of Halifax Water.

Halifax Water is committed to innovation and mitigating the effects of climate change through innovative technologies that can make HALIFAX and the Cogswell area more sustainable.

This DES will reduce carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2e) by an estimated 470,228 tons over the project’s lifetime, improving local air quality and environmental protection.

In June 2021, a funding agreement was announced for the DES with the Government of Canada investing more than $5.5 million through the Green Infrastructure Stream of the Investing in the Canada infrastructure plan. The Government of Nova Scotia contributed more than $4.6 million, while Halifax Water contributed more than $3.7 million.

Source: Release