Amendments to the Electricity Act introduced on October 13 will help add more renewable energy to the grid and clear a path for energy storage solutions.
"There are many options to shift our electricity system to renewable energy and we are advancing them to meet our goals," said Tory Rushton, Minister of Natural Resources and Renewables. "We're on track to exceed our 2030 goal for clean power and these amendments are among the many solutions to help us get there."
Changes will allow the government to quickly approve innovative energy storage projects that Nova Scotia Power aims to build, and take advantage of committed federal funding to reduce the cost for ratepayers. This will help advance the use of batteries for storing excess renewable energy for use during peak demand hours, which reduces renewable energy waste and makes the grid more stable.
Changes will also add clarity for parties entering "sleeved" power purchase agreements. These agreements let a large-scale electricity customer buy renewable electricity from a producer at a set price. The sale and delivery are managed through Nova Scotia Power. Changes will make it clear that the minister has the authority to direct Nova Scotia Power to enter into these types of agreements.
Quick Facts:
- Nova Scotia's climate change goals include getting off coal and producing 80 per cent of electricity from renewables by 2030
- the Province expects to reach 88 per cent renewable energy before that deadline
Additional Resources:
Bills tabled in the legislature are available at: https://nslegislature.ca/legislative-business/bills-statutes/bills/assembly-64-session-1
Electricity Act: https://nslegislature.ca/sites/default/files/legc/statutes/electricity.pdf
Nova Scotia's Climate Action Plan: https://climatechange.novascotia.ca/sites/default/files/uploads/ns-climate-change-plan.pdf
