Wednesday, April 16, 2025
The Green Choice Program will add more clean energy to the grid, bring more green jobs and investments to Nova Scotia, help stabilize power rates and decrease greenhouse gas emissions.
“The Green Choice Program is the single largest addition of clean electricity and the single largest reduction in greenhouse gas emissions in Nova Scotia’s history,” said Nova Scotia’s Energy Minister, Trevor Boudreau. “Our province has incredible onshore and offshore wind speeds. Now is the time to use it to our advantage.”
Eleven large-scale electricity customers are participating in the program. Most will get all their electricity through it. These customers include public institutions and some large industrial and commercial businesses.
Six wind farms were chosen through a competitive independent procurement to support the program. They will start generating more than 2,000 gigawatt hours of clean electricity per year by the end of 2028. They will increase the clean electricity to the grid for program customers by more than 12 per cent and by nearly seven per cent for all Nova Scotia ratepayers.
Each wind farm is co-owned by a private developer and one or more Mi’kmaw community in Nova Scotia. The developers are investing about $73.5 million in social and economic benefits for communities where the wind farms are located. Benefits include training, skill development, capacity building grants and scholarships. There will be about 700 construction jobs and 30 full-time jobs to operate the wind farms.
The Green Choice Program is a commitment in Nova Scotia’s “Our Climate, Our Future: Nova Scotia’s Climate Change Plan for Clean Growth.” The plan aims to create a cleaner, healthier and more sustainable future and includes initiatives to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, switch to clean energy, create a clean economy, make homes and buildings energy efficient and able to stand up to the impacts of climate change.
“Through Glooscap First Nation’s majority ownership with SWEB for Yellow Birch, Blueberry Acres, and Sugar Maple, we are committed to meaningful action that balances economic reconciliation with environmental stewardship,” said Chief Sidney Peters of Glooscap First Nation.
“We aim to build meaningful partnerships that protect the well-being of our community while addressing the need for cleaner, more sustainable energy sources that also reduce energy costs. By advancing clean energy in Nova Scotia, we are protecting the land, water and ecosystems that sustain us and ensuring a healthier, more sustainable future for generations to come. Glooscap First Nation looks forward to building strong local partnerships and fostering strong community connections.”
The successful wind projects in the independent procurement are:
- Yellow Birch, Pictou County; developed by SWEB in partnership with Glooscap First Nation
- Melvin Lake, Hants and Halifax counties; developed by ABO Energy Canada in partnership with Eskasoni, Potlotek, We’koqma’q L’nue’kati and Wagmatook First Nations
- Rhodena, Inverness County; developed by ABO Energy Canada in partnership with Eskasoni, Potlotek, We’koqma’q L’nue’kati and Wagmatook First Nations
- Blueberry Acres, Cumberland County; developed by SWEB in partnership with Glooscap First Nation
- Sugar Maple, Pictou County; developed by SWEB in partnership with Glooscap First Nation
- Eigg Mountain, Antigonish County; developed by Renewable Energy Systems Canada in partnership with Paq’tnkek and Pictou Landing First Nations
“The Canadian Renewable Energy Association congratulates its members and Indigenous partners for their successful bids in the Nova Scotia Green Choice Program procurement,” said Jean Habel, Senior Director for Quebec and Atlantic Canada, Canadian Renewable Energy Association. “All Nova Scotians will benefit from these new projects which will supply 625 MW of affordable, clean and reliable energy to the provincial grid starting by the end of 2028. Our members are ready to support the energy transition and help grow Nova Scotia’s new green economy.”
“These new wind energy projects will contribute to sustainable development in Nova Scotia,” added Habel. “They will significantly reduce greenhouse gases by adding more renewable energy to the provincial grid, and what’s more they will create economic opportunities in communities, ensure the protection of the environment, and help enhance Reconciliation, as each wind farm is co-owned by one or more Mi’kmaw community.”
For further information, visit: https://novascotia.ca/green-choice-program
Featured image: Nova Scotia’s Green Choice Program has 11 large-scale electricity customers and is supported by six wind farms. (Credit: Communications Nova Scotia/File.)
