New community solar garden coming to West Petpeswick
Posted May 15, 2025 05:07:35 AM.
Last Updated May 15, 2025 10:24:58 AM.
The province has announced a new solar garden coming to rural Halifax as part of its ongoing move toward clean energy.
Petpeswick Solar will be built on West Petpeswick Road under Nova Scotia’s community solar program.
According to the province, the program allows people to subscribe to solar gardens and receive clean energy at a reduced cost.
Subscribers — residential or commercial — will receive a solar energy credit of two cents per kilowatt hour on their power bill for the energy generated by their subscription.
“The sun and the wind are among Nova Scotia’s many natural resources for greening our grid and powering our green economy,” Kent Smith, Fisheries and Aquaculture Minister, MLA for Eastern Shore, on behalf of Energy Minister Trevor Boudreau, said. “This new community solar garden in West Petpeswick will generate clean electricity, create green jobs and attract more investment to Nova Scotia. It’s also a way for Nova Scotians to be part of the solution for clean energy.”
The province says it is contributing $440,000 to help build the solar garden, which is expected to produce 2.2 megawatts. One megawatt of electricity can power more than 100 homes for a year.
The West Petpeswick project follows the launch of the province’s first solar garden this past fall at Pine Tree Park Estates in Sydney, which is supplying 555 kilowatts of solar energy to 29 residential and commercial subscribers.
Why a solar garden?
The program was set up because not all properties can install solar panels, such as a lack of roof space, too much shade, or being an apartment. The project allows people in these situations to have solar energy as an option.
Non-profits, First Nations communities, businesses and institutions are able to build solar energy with new programs being built over the next year. The government anticipates more will be up and running by 2026.
It hopes that by next year there will be at least 500 megawatts of new local electricity and an addition 50 megawatts of new solar commitments.
