Province accepting applications for solar energy program
Posted Jun 5, 2018 05:46:26 PM.
This article is more than 5 years old.
Applications are now being accepted for the province's Solar Electricity for Community Buildings Program.
Mi'kmaw bands in Nova Scotia, registered non-profit or charitable organizations including churches, municipalities or organizations owned by municipalities, and universities or community colleges are all eligible.
Peter Craig with the province's Department of Energy said the program is designed to help communities get access to solar power.
“You'd be given the opportunity to construct a solar generating station on the roof or the premises of your community building, generate electricity and be compensated for that electricity by your community,” he told NEWS 95.7's The Sheldon MacLeod Show.
There's no minimum size for a project, but the maximum is 75 kilowatts.
“75 (kilowatts) is close to 300 panels depending on the nature of your panels,” explained Craig. “To put a scale on that, the average rooftop one on person's home is somewhere around 7 kilowatts so these are up to fairly large installs.”
Craig said applicants will need to finance all of the project costs.
“There are some other options out there that we can help you work towards if you are in the position where you'd like to undertake something like this, but don't have the capital on hand right away.”
This is the second of a three year program. Last year's successful applicants include Dalhousie University's IDEA building, the Ecology Action Centre, the Atlantic School of Theology, NSCC's Ivany Campus and The Hospice Society of Greater Halifax.
The deadline for submissions is 5 p.m. on Friday, June 29 and successful applicants will sell electricity to their utility under a 20-year agreement.
