Nov 4 2010
Nova Scotia Power and NewPage Port Hawkesbury have commenced the preparations for erecting a 60 MW biomass co-generation plant, which received approval from the Nova Scotia Utility & Review Board.
The companies have already initiated the works related to taking possession of the place, project plans and manufacturing and looking forward to commissioning the plant in the early part of 2013.
NewPage has taken the responsibility of constructing the plant and manage the procedures related to co-generation facility and its fuel supply. As per the outlined procedures of producing Renewable Electricity the plant will utilize only stem wood and will desist from using fallen tree tops, stumps and branches which are required to reinstate the soil nutrients. The power co-generation plant is expected to generate around 400 GW hours of electric power in a year representing 3% of total power requirement of Nova Scotia. The biomass project expected to cost over $208 million will introduce around 150 new job positions in forestry segment in Northern Nova Scotia and 50 positions at the plant site during the construction process.
Robin McAdam, Nova Scotia Power’s Executive Vice President, Sustainability said that the project developed in cooperation with NewPage Port Hawkesbury will profit all the utility users in Nova Scotia. He added that the project while protecting the existing jobs and creating new job positions also help Novo Scotia to reach its set goals for renewable energy usage. He assured that the biomass power production facility will practice sustainable forestry management in procuring its fuel supply requirements.