The Upper Afton Wind Project, to be built in Antigonish and Guysborough counties, received its environmental assessment approval on April 22.
Construction of the wind farm, with up to 28 eight-megawatt turbines, is expected to begin in 2027 and employ 200 to 250 people. Once operational in 2029, it is expected to employ about eight people, full- and part-time, for about 35 years and generate about $1.5 million in municipal tax revenue each year.
The project will generate energy to be used in the production of green hydrogen. It must comply with 58 terms and conditions designed to protect the environment and human health.
Quick Facts:
- the Upper Afton Wind Project is owned by the Membertou Development Corp. and EverWind N.S. Holdings Ltd.
- the project will be located between Upper Afton, Antigonish County, and Upper Big Tracadie, Guysborough County
- Nova Scotia modernized its environmental assessment process in 2025 to help speed up the province's transition to clean energy, fight climate change faster, grow the economy and support sustainable development
- changes to the process created a clearer, more streamlined path for clean energy projects and make it easier for Nova Scotians to understand the environmental assessment process and be part of the consultation process
Additional Resources:
- Environmental assessment approval and other documents for the Upper Afton Wind Project: https://novascotia.ca/nse/ea/upper-afton-wind-project/
- Nova Scotia's Green Hydrogen Action Plan: https://novascotia.ca/green-hydrogen/docs/green-hydrogen-action-plan.pdf
- More information on the environmental assessment process is available at: https://novascotia.ca/environmental-assessment-getting-started/
- Class I environmental assessment process infographic: https://novascotia.ca/nse/ea/docs/EA-ClassI-Infographic.pdf
- Class II environmental assessment process infographic: https://novascotia.ca/nse/ea/docs/EA-ClassII-Infographic.pdf
- Environmental Goals and Climate Change Reduction Act: https://nslegislature.ca/sites/default/files/legc/statutes/environmental%20goals%20and%20climate%20change%20reduction.pdf
- Our Climate, Our Future: Nova Scotia's Climate Change Plan for Clean Growth: https://climatechange.novascotia.ca/sites/default/files/uploads/ns-climate-change-plan.pdf
- Nova Scotia's 2030 Clean Power Plan: https://beta.novascotia.ca/sites/default/files/documents/1-3582/nova-scotia-clean-power-plan-presentation-en.pdf
