CREDA File

Welcome to the CREDA File, a monthly column on economic development issues and activities in Cumberland County from the files of the Cumberland Regional Economic Development Association - published monthly in the Citizen newspaper.

August, 2007

 

The Nova Scotia Department of Energy has provided funds to the Offshore Energy Environmental Research Association (OEER) for a period of one year to prepare a Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) of offshore renewable energy, specifically tidal energy, in the Bay of Fundy. The primary focus of the SEA will be on tidal in-stream turbines. The SEA will also address other tidal technologies (e.g. tidal lagoons), wave and offshore wind energy, but at a lesser level of detail.

As part of the Fundy Tidal Energy Strategic Environmental Assessment process, OEER is holding Community Forums in six locations this month, including Parrsboro, in order to share information about the potential to generate tidal energy in the Bay of Fundy using tidal in-stream turbines. The forums will also solicit views on the information needed before Nova Scotia proceeds with any tidal in-stream development.

The Parrsboro Community Forum will be held on Monday, August 20 in the multi-purpose room of the Fundy Geological Museum, 162 Two Islands Road. The forum will run from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. (doors open at 6:30 p.m.) To help with planning, pre-registration would be appreciated (but it is not essential). If you would like to register for the Community Forum, go to http://www.offshoreenergyresearch.ca/ and click on events. You can also register by calling Wanda Barrett at 1-888-275-8688 or e-mailing wanda(at)offshoreenergyresearch.ca. Forums are also being held in Truro, Yarmouth, Digby, Wolfville, and Halifax.

The forums are just the first round of meetings being planned. In November, an Environmental and Socio-economic Impact Assessment Report will be made available containing information about the Bay of Fundy physical and social environment, tidal technologies and possible development scenarios, and how the two might interact. Once the report is released written submissions will be invited, followed by a series of community and technical assessment workshops in February 2008. A final SEA Report with recommendations will be submitted to the Nova Scotia Government by April 2008. For other ways to get involved visit the OEER website at www.bayoffundysea.ca.

The Nova Scotia Department of Energy recently established mandatory targets to ensure that almost 20 percent of Nova Scotia’s electricity will be generated by renewable energy by 2013. The province has also committed to reducing greenhouse gas emissions by at least 10 percent below 1990 levels by the year 2020. Ocean renewable energy sources, such as wave, tidal current and offshore wind, offer significant potential and the Bay of Fundy may be the best location in North America for grid-connected tidal power generation.

If you have any questions or want further information regarding CREDA call 667-3638. CREDA is Quality System registered to ISO 9001:2000.