The Ocean Lake Wind Project in Guysborough County received its environmental assessment approval on July 2.
The Ocean Lake Wind Project is the largest wind energy project approved in Nova Scotia to date. (Province of Nova Scotia / File)
Ocean Lake, which will have up to 158 turbines, is the largest wind energy project approved in Nova Scotia to date. Once operational, it will generate about 1,264 megawatts of clean electricity, enough to power the equivalent of about 404,000 homes. It will also reduce Nova Scotia's annual greenhouse gas emissions by about 1.94 million tonnes - the equivalent of taking about 420,000 gas-powered cars off the road.
Construction of the wind farm is expected to begin in 2029 and take about five years. Between 400 and 500 construction jobs will be created, and another 40 to 50 people will be hired for operations. The project is expected to generate about $11 million in annual tax revenue for the Municipality of the District of Guysborough.
The project must comply with 61 terms and conditions designed to protect the environment and human health.
Quick Facts:
- the Ocean Lake Wind Project developers are EverWind NS Holdings Ltd. and Membertou Development Corp.
- the project is near the communities of New Harbour, Goldboro, Larry's River, Lundy and Roachvale
Additional Resources:
- Environmental assessment approval and project documents for the Ocean Lake Wind Project: https://novascotia.ca/nse/ea/ocean-lake-wind/
- More information on the environmental assessment process is available at: https://novascotia.ca/environmental-assessment-getting-started/
- 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://www.novascotia.ca/sites/default/files/documents/1-3582/nova-scotia-clean-power-plan-presentation-en.pdf
