Nova Scotia plans to host renewable energy experts this fall at the Nova Scotia Feed-in Tariff Forum to discuss new market opportunities opening up under Nova Scotia's Renewable Electricity Plan. The province has set a higher goal of obtaining 25% of its electricity from renewable resources by 2015 from a current level of 13%.
This two-day conference, taking place Sept. 21-22, will bring together developers, First Nations leaders, community power experts and scheme administrators to explore the opportunities and challenges under the province's new community feed-in tariff (COMFIT) and competitive bidding programs.
The COMFIT combines local ownership with a traditional FIT market design, offering fixed rates for big wind (projects greater than 50 kW), small wind, biomass, tidal and hydro technologies. Projects must be 51% owned by community groups, including municipalities, universities, First Nations, co-ops and Community Economic Development Investment Funds.
The competitive bidding process for medium to large projects in Nova Scotia has 600 GWh reserved to be split evenly between the province's main utility, Nova Scotia Power, and independent power producers in the first phase.
