Nova Scotia Power achieved a new record in renewable energy in 2015, with 26.6% of the electricity used by Nova Scotians coming from renewable resources.
"We're becoming cleaner and greener," said Mark Sidebottom, Vice President of Power Generation and Delivery for Nova Scotia Power. "Nova Scotians depend on us to provide the electricity they need for their homes and businesses every day, and they want that electricity to come from more sustainable sources. We have 1,700 men and women working in communities throughout our province dedicated to delivering that."
Nova Scotia Power's performance on renewable energy exceeded the legislated 2015 requirement of 25% renewable electricity, and positions the company well to meet the 40% renewable requirement that takes effect in 2020. As recently as 2007, only 9% of Nova Scotia's electricity was renewable. Also by 2020, NSP will have reduced greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 25%, meeting the most ambitious GHG reduction regulations in North America.
The Province of Nova Scotia's Renewable Energy Standard and greenhouse gas regulations have been recognized by the Government of Canada for promoting improvements in Nova Scotia that meet or exceed federal targets.
"We have made remarkable progress in Nova Scotia," Sidebottom said. "No other utility in Canada has made this rapid of a transition. In 2020, we will have a greater percentage of our electricity coming from renewables than Germany, which is often recognized as a world leader in renewable energy.
"Coming out of the Paris climate accord, it's clear that we're moving globally toward a lower carbon future. Guided by provincial legislation that enables made-in-Nova Scotia solutions, we're making great progress on reducing emissions and adding renewable energy in a manner that's affordable for Nova Scotia families and businesses."
At the same time Nova Scotia Power is achieving new records in renewable electricity, the company is also stabilizing power rates. For most customers, rates did not increase in 2015, and have gone down in 2016. (Learn more about rate stability at Nova Scotia Power at nspower.ca/ratestabilityplan.)
Nova Scotia's growth in renewable electricity has been largely through the development of wind power. There are now 294 commercial wind turbines producing electricity in Nova Scotia. Most are independently owned. At times wind power has accounted for as much as 50% of the province's electricity. However, there are other times when almost no electricity is coming from wind, so the utility has to have other generation sources on hand for back-up to supply customers. The Maritime Link, delivering hydroelectricity from Muskrat Falls, will provide a firm source of renewable electricity, and help push Nova Scotia Power to more than 40% renewable electricity by 2020.
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