Community Solar Garden Project
The Municipality of the District of Lunenburg, in partnership with the Alternative Resource Energy Authority (AREA), is developing a proposal for the Province of Nova Scotia’s Department of Resources and Renewables' Community Solar Program that was announced in February 2024. MODL is currently conducting the necessary studies for the application process, which include site selection analysis, geotechnical studies, and a preliminary engineering and design assessment.
The proposed solar garden is a collaborative effort led by the Municipality of the District of Lunenburg (MODL) and its municipal partners, including the Municipality of the District of Shelburne, the Municipality of the District of Argyle, Town of Shelburne, and Town of Lockeport, and AREA will be managing the build. It will provide renewable energy to you and other Nova Scotians.
If the project is approved, MODL and its municipal partners will collectively own the solar garden and sell energy to Nova Scotia Power Inc. through a Power Purchase Agreement (PPA), ensuring sustainable benefits for the community.
What is a PPA?
Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs) are contractual agreements between electricity generators and buyers. They are commonly used in the renewable energy industry, although they can also be employed in traditional energy sectors.
In a PPA, the electricity generator agrees to sell a specified amount of electricity to the buyer (in this case, Nova Scotia Power, Inc.) over a predetermined period, often 10 to 25 years. The buyer, in turn, commits to purchasing the agreed-upon electricity output at an agreed-upon price.
Who is involved?
Residents of the municipal partners involved (MODL, Municipality of the District of Shelburne, Municipality of the District of Argyle, Town of Shelburne, and Town of Lockeport) will have the first option to subscribe to the project. Subscription space after that will be available to residents across Nova Scotia. Solar subscriptions for community members provide citizens with an accessible and inclusive alternative to rooftop solar.
What has the process been so far?
Initially, a site on Mullock Road beside the Lunenburg Regional Community Recycling Centre site was selected as the development location because of:
- Access to transmission lines.
- The land is already owned by a municipal organization.
- Congruent with the use of the landfill site. This land was purchased as a buffer for residential use, utility scale solar makes a great neighbor to the Lunenburg Regional Community Recycling Centre.
Two community “Dinner and Learn” sessions were held to collect feedback from the community, one in October 2023, and one in November 2023.
In December 2023, environmental assessments and wetland delineation surveys discovered a treasure trove of unique plant species, making the site undevelopable.
A new location has been selected at 283 Oakhill Rd, Oak Hill, on the previous Bowater Sawmill site. The site was selected because of:
- Access to power lines
- It is a post-industrial site
- The site is not forested, so clear cutting is not required
A community “Dinner and Learn” session was organized on May 27th,2024, to gather valuable feedback and insights from community members about the project.
How can I learn more?
We expect to offer open information sessions on this opportunity by the end of 2024. If you'd like to stay informed about public engagement opportunities, or subscriptions, please enter your email in the Stay Informed box on this page to receive email updates and stay connected with this exciting project.
