On October 26, 2014, I sent this response
to Nova Scotia's
Summary
Report regarding Emerging Technology and Market Trend Studies
Price, we have learned, becomes a heightened problem when a province is committed to
replacing the use of fossil fuels with cleaner, renewable energy. Cleaner, renewable energy comes at a higher price and for-profit organizations like NS Power are reluctant to pay more to generate energy that they want to sell at a profit. And so Nova Scotia has committed to underwriting much of this increased cost... putting the taxpayer and the consumer on the hook.
It
needs to be noted that within the chambers of our municipal council
there has not been an opportunity to discuss the Nova Scotia
Electricity System Review. Therefore,
the comments contained in this response are attributable to me
solely. There is no intention for the opinions and views below to be seen as
a position reached through discussion within the chambers of the Municipality of the
County of Kings. My
response to the review was provided as outlined below under five key headings. I trust you will find my responses of interest. I would welcome any feedback you may have.
- Clean, “Electric-System-Free”, Renewable Heat in Rural Communities
- Producing Electricity from Municipal Solid Waste
- Reduction of Reliance on the Nova Scotia Power Grid System
- Expanded Role for Nova Scotia Municipalities in Home Energy Conversation and EfficiencyExamples:Halifax's Solar CityRichmond County's Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE) Project
- Collaborative Energy Systems
Many
Nova Scotian homes
(estimated at approximately 100,000) burn hardwood as their major
source of heat each winter.
This
renewable fuel makes little or no demand on the electrical system
during winter months when demand for electricity triples.
This
year, many families have experienced difficulty accessing this fuel.
At least two factors could be contributing
to this problem.
- Using wood for the generation of electricity at the Port Hawkesbury biomass facility.
- Exporting chipped hard wood for use in the manufacture of wood beams. This appears to be a new market with China for Canadian hardwood that is being discussed in rural communities.
It
is notable that these uses require the transportation of wood over
long distances. This use competes with local wood burning as a
thermal heat source. This use requires relatively little
transportation and reducing the need to burn fossil fuels for
transportation.
Once,
or if, the
availability of hardwood for home space
heating
becomes scarce homeowners will be
forced to
switch to other forms of heat that may be much less efficient and
could also
create a greater need for electrical generation.
Nova
Scotia needs to be more mindful of the choices being made.
Creating
electricity from biomass that is then used by homes in the form of
electrical heat is much less efficient that using biomass for local
space heatiing through the use of wood burning stoves.
Producing Electricity from Municipal Solid Waste
Environmental
stewardship has been greatly enhanced by forward looking policies in
Nova Scotia and the creation of waste authorities in
the 90s.
In
recent years the
Valley
Authority
has explored the diversion
of municipal
solid
waste
from the
Chester landfill
site.
Hauling of
waste there involves a cost of approximately $2 Million in trucking
and tipping fees each year. Advances in gasification technology
points to opportunities for not only using MSW as feed stock but also
sewage where environmental standards can be met (applied in this way
“sewage” can be viewed as an a renewable fuel).
Further
inquiry into such sources of “biomass” needs to be considered as
part of the Nova Scotia Electricity System. Efficiency, sound
environmental stewardship, energy security and cost-effective
management by municipalities of their solid waste could all be
positively impacted by the potential use of these feed stocks as
“biomass”.
Reduction of Reliance on the Nova Scotia Power Grid System
Earlier
this year, the Electricity
Reform Act
opened up the renewable energy market to allow independent energy
providers to produce electricity and retail it directly to customers.
This
cornerstone for diversification needs to be built upon. The
anticipation of regulations that will allow Nova Scotians to purchase
renewable energy directly from producers, other than Nova Scotia
Power, by late 2015 is a welcome change.
Will
the Department of Energy actively
promote
and
offer support to local
communities and not-for-profit organizations to
engage in this opportunity?
Can
incentives be provided, local EcoDistricts be created?
Will
government buildings lead
the way as customers
for local
renewable
energy production?
The
answer to these questions will be critical to the successful
diversification of: who retails
renewable energy; who
benefits from renewable
energy;
and
at what price.
Expanded Role for Nova Scotia Municipalities in Home Energy Conversation and Efficiency
As
a municipal councillor I believe municipalities can
play
a more
significant
role in helping home-owners conserve
and use energy more efficiently. This
in turn
reduces
demand on the electricity system.
We
already have at least two municipalities with recent
initiatives
that
could be adapted more broadly.
Halifax's
Solar City
This
pilot
project was launched in 2012.
The
program helps home owners assess the suitability of solar hot water
heating for their location and home. It follows through with
financing
through the municipality
and boosts “typical
lifetime savings of over $20,000” and
“average
yearly greenhouse gas reductions of 1,700 kg.”
An
electric system review needs to include an assessment of the impact
of a broad-based application of this use of solar energy
across municipalities.
Do
we know what the reduction in energy use would be if every home in
Nova Scotia that could use solar energy for hot water installed such
a system?
Richmond
County's Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE) Project
In
September 2014, Richmond
County became
the first
rural municipality in Canada to pass a bylaw that allows home-owners
to finance energy efficiency upgrades to homes
through an annual charge
on their tax bill.
Efficiency
Nova Scotia has worked closely with Richmond County to ensure that
the program meets appropriate standards and can be implemented
efficiently. If this program was adapted
by other/all municipalities it could have a substantial impact,
especially for homeowners who live in low-income circumstances.
Eligible upgrades for
access to low-cost municipal financing can
include insulation (ceilings, exterior walls, basements, crawl
spaces); draft proofing (weather stripping and caulking);
installation of Energy Star windows, doors, skylights; etc.
Efficiency Nova Scotia
incentives can be automatically deducted to reduce the financed
amount.
Collaborative Energy Systems
Collaboration
and community-based initiatives are being embraced in several cities
and towns across North America to build energy systems that gain
efficiency through conservation of energy and/or more
direct use of energy where
it is produced.
Is
there
an opportunity for more active collaboration between municipalities,
their
planners and
engineers,
the Department of Energy, the Department of Municipal Relations and
local communities, organizations
and businesses?
Could
such
collaboration
be aligned with new
funding
incentives (provincial grants and/or loans) as
the current COMFIT program
nears
its end?
Could
partnerships
between municipalities, the province and local communities help
achieve energy security and self-sufficiency for Nova Scotians?
What
is the potential of collaboration within local communities with
regard to efficiency and energy security for Nova Scotians?
The
review does not adequately address the impacts possible if community
collaboration was broadly supported and promoted by governments.
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