News About Town
News About TownAmherst Daily News Article Re: TurbineAmherst Daily News Article Re: Federal Funds for Tidal PowerParrsboro Community Radio on Air Full-TimeParrsboro Community Radio has been approved by the CRTC to air on a full-time basis says Program Director, Ross Robinson. Parrsboro Community Radio is a group of volunteers who help make Parrsboro a nicer place to live. In September 2008, we are proud to tell you we are on the air "FULL TIME". We offer FM Stereo music that is requested by you the listener. Our volunteers work all hours of the day and night to play this music, gather announcements from Parrsboro activities and talk about them on the air. We also keep you informed of the weather and advisories when needed plus, thanks to our great sponsors we bring you interviews and comments from all around Parrsboro. Tune into 99.1FM or visit their website. $12-million Tidal power project planned for Bay of FundyPremier Rodney MacDonald announced in Parrsboro on Tuesday, January 8th, 2008, the province has approved a $12-million tidal power demonstration project in the Bay of Fundy that could make Nova Scotia a "groundbreaking" force in green energy. Minas Basin Pulp and Power of Hantsport will build a demonstration facility, including underwater transmission lines that will take the power generated by turbines at the bottom of the Minas Channel to a building containing the electrical equipment needed to synchronize with the Nova Scotia power grid. The building will also house a research laboratory that will help private companies and the province determine whether it is environmentally and commercially feasible to operate power-generating turbines underwater in the Minas Basin. Researchers will examine the impact on the basin's fishery and bird population and the bay's tides and currents. They will also determine whether the test turbines can stand up to the power of the bay. The test turbines will be provided by Minas Basin Pulp and Power and its partner UEK Hydrokinetic Turbine of Maryland; Nova Scotia Power and its partner OpenHydro Turbine of Ireland; and Clean Current Power Systems Inc. of B.C. Each turbine will cost $12 million to $15 million and company representatives said they would seek government funding from the Sustainable Technology Development Canada program. The turbine costs are in addition to the $12 million need to build the test facility, which is being funded by $5 million from the province, $3 million from EnCana Corp. of Calgary and $4 million from the companies whose turbines will be hooked up to the building. The facility will be operated by a non-profit organization and will hopefully be located near Parrsboro. But a turbine probably won't be in the water until 2009. The project must first undergo an environmental assessment, which is expected to be finished this spring, and must complete federal and provincial environmental reviews. "I believe that this facility and the strategic environmental assessment currently underway will help us understand the role that tidal energy can play in our efforts to protect the environment", Mr. MacDonald said. "I also believe today is only....the first step in Nova Scotia becoming groundbreaking environmental entrepreneurs." The test turbines will generate three to five megawatts of power, enough to supply electricity to 15 to 25 buildings the size of supermarkets. A commercial project with 200 turbines generating 300,000 megawatts could power 100,000 homes. "That's one-quarter of the homes in this province that would get their power from this made-in Nova Scotia green energy source," the premier said, adding such a project would go a long way to help the province meet and possibly surpass its goal of getting 20 per cent of its electricity from renewable sources. Energy Minister Richard Hurlburt said a commercial operation of that magnitude in the Bay of Fundy "would mean that one million tonnes of greenhouse gases (would be) displaced from our air each year." The potential for growth in Nova Scotia's economy is enormous if the province can establish itself as a centre for research, design and manufacturing of in-stream tidal power generation, he said. EnCana president Gerry Protti said investing in the tidal power test facility was a sound business investment because "we believe in unlocking the value of unconventional energy." John Woods, Minas Basin vice-president, said his company is anxious to get the test facility built and a turbine into the water. "We are going to show the rest of the world that we can do it right here in Nova Scotia, and (that) we do things right in Nova Scotia", he said. Nova Scotia Power spokesman Rob Bennett said he is pleased the province is testing more than one type of turbine and suggested the project could make Nova Scotia a world leader in tidal power generation. This article was reprinted from the Wednesday, January 9th, 2008, issue of the Chronicle Herald written by Tom McCoag, of the Amherst Bureau.
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