Nova Scotia Community Solar

Barrington Community Solar Public Notice

We are writing to make you aware of three proposed Community Solar Projects, located at the following addresses that will be proposed to the Nova Scotia Community Solar Program. As part of the community engagement, we are sharing the outline of the Projects with you.

Project Name: NS – 244 Forbes, Location: 244 Forbes Point Rd, GPS: 43.5647, -65.7647
Project Name: NS – 7740 Highway 3, Location: 7740 Highway 3, GPS: 43.5745, -65.7376
Project Name: NS – Lower Shag, Location: Lower Shag Harbour, GPS: 43.5082, -65.6959
Project Name: NS – Highway 103, Location: Highway 103, GPS: 43.6022, -65.6324

Community Solar Program Background

Nova Scotia is working toward 80% renewable energy by 2030 and becoming net-zero by 2035. Last year, the province announced its Clean Power Plan—a roadmap to reach climate goals that Nova Scotia Power are aligned with and supportive of. Community Solar Program, as part of the roadmap, was announced on March 1, 2024 by the Department of Natural Resources and Renewables.

Nova Scotia’s Community Solar Program procurement will add up to 100 megawatts (MW) of clean, renewable solar generation to the grid, helping to reduce our dependence on fossil fuels and mitigate climate change.

Benefits of Community Solar Gardens

Community solar gardens provide many benefits, including:

Helping communities to get involved in developing renewable energy making renewable energy more accessible (even for people who wouldn’t be able to install solar panels, like renters, condos and people with shaded roofs).
Helping generate more clean energy (a 2.2-megawatt solar garden can power up to 290 homes per year), helping Nova Scotia reach its target of 80% renewable energy by 2030 saving money on energy costs.
Reduce electricity costs. Subscribers get a credit on their electricity bill for the power generated by their subscription of solar electricity.
Local job opportunities and economic growth: long-term contracts can be awarded to local businesses, electricians, technicians for project development, and operations & maintenance.

For more information please see: https://energy.novascotia.ca/renewables/community-solar-program

Proponent Information

4650552 Nova Scotia Limited, 4650550 Nova Scotia Limited, 4650575 Nova Scotia Limited and 4650575 Nova Scotia Limited are 100% owned Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) by AI Renewable flow-through fund. AI Renewable 2023 LP is a Canadian flow-through limited partnership, made to invest in clean infrastructure and/or renewable energy projects that help to reduce energy costs and GHG emissions in Canada while producing tax benefits and long-term reasonable returns for investors.

Developers

AI Renewable has contracted SolarBank Corp and TriMac Engineering to work on the development.

SolarBank (www.solarbankcorp.com) is an established and trusted Canadian developer, engineer, and asset operator in renewable and clean energy projects. We specialize in the development of behind-the-meter (BTM) solar power rooftops, grid-connected community solar gardens, and battery energy storage systems (BESS). Since 2013, SolarBank has enabled the proliferation of renewable and clean energy contributing to Net Zero carbon emission goals through its development, engineering, and asset management services in Canada and the United States.

TriMac Engineering (www.trimaceng.ca) is a local engineering firm with offices located in Sydney and Halifax, Nova Scotia. TriMac are Mechanical and Electrical Engineering Consultants, incorporated in 2015 with roots dating back to 1991. The firm has expertise in the design and implementation of piping, mechanical, electrical and control systems with extensive experience in the power generation and construction industries.

Project Information

Project Information

Proponent Name #1: 4650552 Nova Scotia Limited Project Name: NS-244 Forbes

Project Size: 2.2 Megawatt AC Zoning: RD – Rural Development

Proponent Name #2: 4650550 Nova Scotia Limited Project Name: NS – 7740 Highway 3

Project Size: 2.6 Megawatt AC Zoning: RD – Rural Development

Proponent Name #3: 4650575 Nova Scotia Limited

Project Name: NS – Lower Shag

Project Size: 3.8 Megawatt AC

Zoning: RD – Rural Development

Proponent Name #4: 4650575 Nova Scotia Limited

Project Name: NS – Highway 103

Project Size: 5 Megawatt

Zoning: RD – Rural Development

The proposed Projects are currently in the early stages of developing proposals to the Nova Scotia Community Solar Program. If our proposal is successful and we are selected for contract, we will begin the detailed project developments, including permitting, interconnection, detailed engineering, procurement, and construction.

The projects will be connected to the local distribution system, to an existing Nova Scotia Power Line.

Community Engagement Plan

As the project developer, SolarBank plans to engage the local community as part of the development process.

This plan includes the following:

Hosting a public meeting in an accessible location so that local residents can learn about the project, ask questions, and raise any potential concerns.
We hosted 3 public meetings at 3 different times, to ensure we are accommodating different schedules and needs. 2 meetings were in person and 1 was online.
Posted on local social media group page.
Posting the Public meeting notice a minimum of 2 weeks in advance on the project website.
Engaging with local First Nations communities and marginalized communities.
Notifying owners of property adjacent to the project site of the public meeting via mail correspondence – we have sent out a Canada Post mail drop to properties in surrounding area.
Notifying the municipality of the public meeting via correspondence.
Posting all project information, site planning, and meeting minutes on project website.
Providing contact information on project website and letters for any questions that residents may have and will be responsive in a timely matter.

Public Meeting

If you would like to know more about these Projects and the Province’s Community Solar Program, you are highly welcomed to attend public meetings per the schedules listed below. The meetings are intended to ensure that community members have the chance to inform about the project and ask any questions they may have. The meetings will cover similar information in more detail, feel free to attend whichever fits best with your schedule.

In-person

Public Meeting for 244 Forbes, 7740 Highway 3 and Lower Shag:

Location: Woods Harbour Community Centre (6881 Woods Harbour, Barrington, NS B0W 2E0)

Date: Thursday, November 7^th, 2024

Time: 7-9 PM

Public Meeting for Highway 103:
Location: Woods Harbour Community Centre (6881 Woods Harbour, Barrington, NS B0W 2E0)

Date: Monday, November 18^th, 2024

Time: 7-9 PM

On-line

Public Meeting for 244 Forbes and 7740 Highway 3:

Date: Monday, November 11^th, 2024

Time: 6-7:30 PM

Teams Link: https://teams.microsoft.com/l/meetup-join/19:meeting_M2U1NGZjMjQtODlhNS00NWEwLWE1YWYtN2ZjNGYyNzllODk5@thread.v2/0?context=%7B%22Tid%22:%22f90ea049-87a1-4082-95af-7e4e24c02cb4%22,%22Oid%22:%220c22f561-76aa-460f-92a6-6c3a947c7953%22%7D

Public Meeting for Lower Shag Harbour:

Date: Tuesday, November 12^th, 2024

Time: 6-7:30 PM

Teams Link: https://teams.microsoft.com/l/meetup-join/19:meeting_MjkzMWQ2MjAtYjM3Ny00NzNmLWJjMTUtNzU4NjA1Zjk1ZmIw@thread.v2/0?context=%7B%22Tid%22:%22f90ea049-87a1-4082-95af-7e4e24c02cb4%22,%22Oid%22:%220c22f561-76aa-460f-92a6-6c3a947c7953%22%7D

Public Meeting for Highway 103:

Date: Sunday, November 17^th, 2024

Time: 7-8:30 PM

If you plan to attend the online meeting, please email allison.gong@solarbankcorp.com for the meeting link.

Questions and Contacts

Please feel free to reach out to me below if you have any questions regarding the Community Solar Program, companies involved, and/or proposed project.

Sincerely,

Mila Simon, Project Coordinator
SolarBank Corporation
mila.simon@solarbankcorp.com