Nova Scotia wants 25% renewable electricity by 2015, and is moving aggressively to achieve it. The Nova Scotia Utility and Review Board has announced the rates for the new feed in tariff scheme under the Renewable Electricity Plan. Full details can be viewed here but in brief the rates are:Wind (greater that 50MW) – 13.8 cents/kWh
Wind (50MW or less) – 45.2 cents/kWh
Biomass/CHP – 18 cents/kWh
Small-scale in stream tidal – 65.2 cents/kWh
Run of the river hydro – 14 cents/kWh
Tariffs have 20 year terms. COMFIT tariffs to be reviewed in 3 years.
Solar is not included in the feed-in tariff scheme but is included within the Enhanced Net-Metering aspect of the program. For full details of the scheme visit here.
Like Germany, Nova Scotia gives strong support to community power organizations. For example, there is a special rate paid for power generated by a Community Economic Development Investment Fund. A CEDIF is a pool of capital, formed through the sale of shares (or units), to persons within a defined community, created to operate or invest in local business. It cannot be charitable, non-taxable, or not-for-profit, and must have at least six directors elected from their defined community. For the purposes of COMFIT, at least 25 of the shareholders or members must reside in the municipality where the project is located. Nova Scotia expects to get 100 MW from COMFIT.