Solar for Community Buildings Program Ready for Applications

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Community organizations that want to be part of Nova Scotia’s cleaner, more innovative energy future will soon have a chance to participate in the Solar for Community Buildings Program.

Energy Minister Geoff MacLellan announced today, July 18, the program will open to applications on Monday, July 31, fulfilling another commitment of the 2015 Electricity Plan.

“Nova Scotia has continued to be a national and international leader in reducing greenhouse gas emissions because we have been innovators and investors in clean electricity,” said Mr. MacLellan. “This new program will allow communities to reach their environmental goals, and write their own chapter in Nova Scotia’s ongoing success story.”

Clean Foundation is a Nova Scotia environmental charity that works to increase the amount of clean energy produced, while helping to grow the clean tech sector. The organization has been selected to independently evaluate and select projects.

“As an organization that works at the community level, we applaud the provincial government’s initiative to get community groups involved in renewable energy generation,” said Scott Skinner, executive director of Clean Foundation. “With clean energy, jobs in the green sector and support for the non-profit sector, this is a win-win-win from our perspective.”

The program is open to Mi’kmaw bands in Nova Scotia, registered non-profit or charitable organizations, municipalities or organizations owned by municipalities and universities or community colleges.

Applications propose a price per kilowatt hour (kWh) for the electricity they will generate. Successful organizations will enter into a 20-year agreement with their electric utility.

To help with the application process, community information sessions will be held at five Nova Scotia Community College campuses from Aug. 14 to Aug. 18 between 4:30 p.m. and 6 p.m.:
— Monday, Aug. 14, Burridge Campus, 372 Pleasant St., Yarmouth
— Tuesday, Aug. 15, Annapolis Valley Campus, 289 Commercial St., Middleton
— Wednesday, Aug. 16, Waterfront Campus, 80 Mawiomi Pl., Dartmouth
— Thursday, Aug. 17, Pictou Campus, 39 Acadia Ave., Stellarton
— Friday, Aug. 18, Marconi Campus, 1240 Grand Lake Rd., Sydney

The program was developed following consultations with the industry and stakeholders in 2016. The cost of this program to ratepayers will be capped at 0.1 per cent, which is already built into power rates over the next three years.

Visit novascotia.ca/solar to learn more about the program and to download a workbook to help you apply.

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Source: Release