Wednesday, April 16, 2025
The Canada Infrastructure Bank (CIB) is providing $224.2 million in loans to help Port Hawkesbury Paper Wind Ltd. build a large-scale wind energy project and support 13 Mi’kmaw First Nations, through Wskijinu’k Mtmo’taqnuow Agency Ltd. (WMA), buy a 10 per cent stake in the project.
The Goose Harbour Lake Wind Farm involves construction and installation of 24 Nordex N163-7.0MW cold climate turbines at a 118 metre hub height with anti-icing system blade technology, producing zero-emission, sustainable electricity generation capacity of 168 megawatts. The lead building team is RES Canada Construction LP.
“The Goose Harbour Lake Wind project supports Nova Scotia’s transition to clean energy sources that will significantly reduce the province’s carbon emissions. The CIB’s investment and partnership with Port Hawkesbury Paper Wind Ltd., and Wskijinu’k Mtmo’taqnuow Agency Ltd. (WMA), will create more jobs and bring lasting economic benefits to the region,” said Mike Kelloway, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Fisheries and Oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard and Member of Parliament for Cape-Breton-Canso.
The wind project will support Nova Scotia’s largest industrial user of electricity, Port Hawkesbury Paper and the provincial energy grid.
The wind farm is expected to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by nearly 357,000 tonnes a year, equivalent to 2.4 per cent of Nova Scotia’s emissions in 2021, and help the province’s energy transition, moving from coal to renewables. (Credit: CIB.)
The paper mill is a significant contributor to the economic well-being of Nova Scotia, and particularly the eastern region of the province. Economic impact studies confirmed the mill directly employs approximately 325 people, and contracts another 900 jobs, employing hundreds of forestry contractors and suppliers.
The project will create 150 jobs at peak of construction, up to five permanent jobs during the operations phase and generate economic development for the region.
The Indigenous equity loan is the second to WMA, following a deal last year related to an energy storage project in Nova Scotia.
“Our partnership with Port Hawkesbury Paper Wind and the Canada Infrastructure Bank on the Goose Harbour Lake Wind project represents not just an investment in renewable energy, but also a significant step towards empowering our Mi’kmaq communities,” said Crystal Nicholas, president of Wskijinu’k Mtmo’taqnuow Agency Ltd.
“By acquiring a stake in this groundbreaking initiative, we are not only contributing to Nova Scotia’s transition to sustainable energy but also supporting industry, creating jobs and fostering economic development in our region. This project embodies our commitment to balancing environmental responsibility with community growth, ensuring a brighter future for generations to come.
The wind farm is expected to reduce energy production emissions by more than 350,000 tonnes a year, equivalent to 2.4 per cent of Nova Scotia’s emissions in 2021, and help the province’s energy transition, moving from coal to renewables.
Commercial operations are expected to begin in 2026.
“Our latest clean power investment in Nova Scotia supports sustainable economic development in the Atlantic province and the delivery of electricity to a paper mill which is a large Nova Scotia employer,” said Ehren Cory, CEO of CIB. “The $203.9-million investment will help build one of Nova Scotia’s largest wind energy projects and support all First Nations in the province to buy a meaningful equity stake and have a voice through a board position in the project.
The total cost project cost is approximately $450 million. The project is being financed under the CIB’s $10 billion Clean Power priority sector, which is dedicated to addressing financing gaps in new projects such as renewables, district energy systems and energy storage.
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Featured image credit: Getty Images
