Newsletter
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Energy for Students
June '10
Newsletter
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The Energy For Students program is pleased to offer the EFS newsletter to teachers and students to use as a resource. On behalf of our organizers, partners and sponsors we are pleased to provide the following updates on Nova Scotia’s energy industry. Energy for Students newsletters offer a variety of energy related snapshots of information for teachers, educators and students to use in the classroom, for projects or career planning. You can also view previous newsletters by scrolling to the end of this page.
Nova Scotia Students Take Gold Medals at National Science Fair
Nova Scotia's budding scientists came away with three gold, eight silver and eight bronze medals from the Canada-Wide Science Fair. Medals, awards and scholarships were handed out on May 21 in Peterborough, Ontario. Forty Nova Scotia students joined about 450 of their peers from across the county for the nine-day competition.
Elise Tessier, a Grade 12 student at West Kings District High School, won a gold medal in Life Sciences for her analysis of spinach grown under different light intensities and durations to determine if bioactive compounds can be enhanced without compromising crop yield. Her findings could potentially lead to tailoring plants to combat many diseases, including some cancers. Elise also received the Actuarial Foundation of Canada Award and the Manning Innovation Achievement Award for her project Can Stress Bring Out the Best?
Arash Marzi, a Grade 11 student at Dr. John Hugh Gillis Regional School, won a gold medal in Computing and Information Technology
Chantal Surette, a Grade 9 student at École secondaire de Clare, won a gold medal in Engineering for her project L'appareil orque - une nouvelle façon de capter l'énergie dans les vagues. L’appareil Orque utilise une colonne d’eau oscillante pour faire tourner une turbine mais contrairement aux autres appareils de colonne d’eau oscillante qui utilisent des turbines bi-directionnelle, utilise une turbine uni-directionnelle. Je fais une comparaison entre l’appareil Orque et les deux types principaux d’appareil de colonne d’eau oscillante.
The other winners include:
-- Adrian Peter Howie, Citadel High School: Silver medal in Biotechnology & Pharmaceutical Sciences for Arctic-Ceuticals
--Kelsey Keddy, École du Carrefour: Silver medal in Earth & Environmental Sciences for Augmenter l'énergie potentielle du moteur à combustion
--Hannah Gillis, Chedabucto Education Centre-Guysborough Academy: Silver medal in Computing & Information Technology
--Ria Van der Linden, Chedabucto Education Centre-Guysborough Academy: Silver medal in Life Sciences for Fledglings and Fleas
--Robert Barrett, Riverview High School: Silver medal in Physical & Mathematical Sciences for Knock Out: Momentum of a Kick Boxers Punch
--Alex Ianta, West Pictou Consolidated School: Silver medal in Computing & Information Technology
-- Tim Cooper, Horton High School: Silver medal in Computing & Information Technology
--Natalie Fisher, South Colchester Academy: Silver medal in Health Sciences for Is Its Bark Worse Than Its Bite?
-- Maxwell Poole, Maple Grove Education Centre: Bronze medal in Engineering for Reengineering LED Traffic
-- Colin Hooper, Malcolm Munroe Memorial Jr High School: Bronze medal in Physical and Mathematical sciences for Take a Bow.
-- Travis Landry, Bridgewater Junior-Senior High: Bronze medal in Life Sciences for Blanding's: A Species at Risk.
-- Mitchell Hanna, Riverview High School: Bronze medal in Health Sciences for Max VO2 Versus Resting Heart Rate.
-- Hannah Martin, North Colchester High School: Bronze medal in Health Sciences for Complaining about Training
-- Riviera Marshall and Alitta Sylliboy, Eskasoni High School: Bronze medal in Environmental Innovation for Invisible Plough.
-- Kurtis Turnbull, Pictou Academy-Dr. T. McCulloch School: Bronze medal in Life Sciences for A Radical Theory: Why Antioxidants May Not Always Be Good
-- Briony Rose Merritt, Halifax NS: Honourable mention in Health Scinces for Seeing Red – The Science Behind Colour in Marketing
--Juliana Ali, Chignecto East NS: Honourable mention in Health Sciences for Let the “D” Shine In
-- Macall Robinson, Annappolis Valley NS: Honourable mention in Life Scinces for Carbon Counts
--Roman Koszucki, Annapolis Valley NS: Honourable mention in Life Sciences for The Spill on Dawn
--Alex Mann, South Shore NS: Honourable mention in Earth and Environmental sciences for Up in the Air – VOC Production by Phytoplankton
--Peter Holland, Cape Breton NS: Honourable mention in Physical and mathematical Sciences for Get the Most Out of Your Game
Congratulations Team
DUC and Encana partner to provide Library with Project Webfoot
Nova Scotia libraries first recipients of popular wetland educational resources
For the first time in Canada, Ducks Unlimited Canada (DUC) is providing popular environmental educational resources to public libraries. Public libraries in Northeastern Nova Scotia – branches of the Eastern Counties Regional Library and the Pictou-Antigonish Regional Library – will be receiving sets of materials from the Project Webfoot program offered by DUC. For the past three years, DUC has partnered with Encana Corporation to offer Project Webfoot to elementary school children in Northeastern Nova Scotia and along Nova Scotia’s eastern shore. Project Webfoot is Ducks Unlimited Canada’s school-based, national wetland education program that offers curriculum-linked resources related to wetland and environmental conservation for more than 50,000 students across Canada every year. With Encana’s support in Nova Scotia, the Project Webfoot learning resources will now be made available to all branches of the Eastern Counties Regional Library and the two main branches within the Pictou-Antigonish Regional Library. This is the first time in Canada that these resources will be made available outside of the in-school Project Webfoot program. “Encana is pleased to support this initiative to provide these tremendous learning materials to public libraries in Northeastern Nova Scotia,” says Lori MacLean, Communications Advisor for Encana in Halifax, Nova Scotia. Encana is an innovative natural gas producer that safely and responsibly provides the energy used in communities across Canada and the United States. In Nova Scotia’s offshore, Encana is developing the Deep Panuke natural gas project.
For more information, visit: www.encana.com/deeppanuke
The goal of Project Webfoot is to teach today’s students – who are tomorrow’s decision-makers and conservation leaders – about the tremendous value of wetland habitats. “Having these resources available within the library system will be of fantastic benefit to the people in those regions,” adds Jodie Hambrook, Manager Outreach Programs Atlantic for DUC. “These materials will now be there for any children who participated in Project Webfoot and want to learn more about wetland conservation, for children who may have not had the opportunity to participate, for parents and educators, and for visitors to the area.”
For more information on Project Webfoot visit: http://www.ducks.ca/aboutduc/how/edu.html
View complete article: http://www.ducks.ca/aboutduc/news/archives/prov2010/100519.html
FORCE Releases New Tidal Brochure
The Fundy Ocean Research Centre for Energy (FORCE) is a co-op of some of the world’s leading researchers, scientists, developers and regulators committed to explore the potential of a cleaner, renewable source of energy – straight from the Bay of Fundy, in Nova Scotia’s backyard. They are in the first stage of what may become a new marine energy industry in Canada - their research centre in the Minas Passage tests tidal energy devices and measuring their effects, if any, on the environment. FORCE has relased a four page brochure outlining its goals, the power potential of the Bay of Fundy and our tidal technology .
To View the Brocure Visit: http://fundyforce.ca/userfiles/FORCE%20Fact%20Sheet%20May%202010.pdf
N.S. extends oil and gas drilling moratorium
The federal and Nova Scotia governments have said they will extend a moratorium on exploration and drilling for oil and gas on the Georges Bank, a rich fishing ground off the coast of Nova Scotia. The moratorium, which dates back to 1988, was first extended in 1999. The latest ban was set to expire in 2012. This new three-year extension, to Dec. 31, 2015, will allow researchers “to gather and develop information on the delicate Georges Bank ecosystem, particularly about fishing and petroleum activities and technologies,” the governments said in a joint release. “We know that any decision on whether or not to lift the moratorium on Georges Bank could have significant economic and environmental impacts on the province, the country, and beyond,” Nova Scotia Premier Darrell Dexter said in a release. “It is critical that government understands these impacts before such a decision is made.” He said “there may be important lessons to learn” from the oil spill off the coast of Louisiana in the Gulf of Mexico, which has brought offshore drilling activity to the public spotlight. “We would want solid science and a full public review before making any decision to lift the moratorium. I have heard the public’s concerns and I am confident that extending the moratorium will put people’s minds at ease,” Mr. Dexter said. U.S. President Barack Obama
View complete articles:
http://www.nationalpost.com/news/extends+drilling+moratorium/3023444/story.html
http://www.gov.ns.ca/news/details.asp?id=20100513005
Hurricane could redistribute, reactivate oil
Dispersants could do more harm than good
Oil cleanup efforts in the Gulf of Mexico will overlap with the 2010 Atlantic hurricane season that starts in June. In the event of a major storm "oil on the bottom in shallower areas could be stirred up" due to strong wave action, says Kelly Hawboldt, associate professor, faculty of engineering and applied science at Memorial University in St. John's, NL. Hawboldt, an expert in environmental safeguards for offshore oil platforms, said that such an event could cause oil that had settled to the bottom to be redistributed, potentially ending up in surface areas of the ocean that are home to birds and other animals. A storm could also create a greater number of tar balls, globs of oil that coalesce and take a very long time to degrade. "That stuff getting redistributed on the coast would be very bad," she said. Hawboldt said a storm could also help disperse slicks, a process which could increase microbial degradation of the oil. "The more you break up the oil, the easier it is to degrade. This degradation is the function of nutrients, oxygen, sunlight," she explained, adding that it's a process that can take "days, months, years." The 2010 Atlantic hurricane season is promising to be extremely active, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). It is predicting 14 to 23 named storms, meaning ones with winds of 62 km/h or higher, eight to four hurricanes (winds of 117 km/h or higher) and three to seven major hurricanes, which include Category 3, 4 or 5 storms, with winds of 178 km/h or higher; the seasonal average is 11 named storms, six hurricanes and two major hurricanes. BP is currently adding gallons of dispersants to the oil leak, attempting to break up the oil via chemical means. It's a move that has angered many environmental groups, as the type of dispersants used and their quantities are unknown. The agency is concerned that essentially a huge scientific experiment that could have big implications for human and animal life is being carried out. Environmental and public health groups say dispersants can cause human illness, and kill mammals and aquatic life. They also point out that manufacturers
View complete article: http://www.cbc.ca/canada/nova-scotia/story/2010/05/27/hurricane-season-2010.html#ixzz0q7F5DkG6
Oil isn’t subsidized
New investments in oil and gas are already taxed more heavily than are other industries
As BP’s well continues to spill oil into the Gulf of Mexico, the anger at the petroleum industry won’t likely be capped any time soon. Not only deep drilling will be questioned, but also many other policies affecting the industry. One does not have to look far. On the chopping block at the G20 level are “fossil fuel subsidies,” which are viewed as promoting excessive development of “old” energy sources. The tax-starved U.S. and EU are already on record as wanting to raise producer levies. Australia has announced new royalties on oil, gas and mining activities, creating an uproar, with promises by the industry to move investments elsewhere. A leaked Finance Canada memo last week raises the possible curtailment of corporate tax write-offs for exploration, development and flow-through shares. Again, the subsidy issue is at the heart. In the new world of clean energy, tax subsidies for wind, solar and bio-diesel seem perfectly acceptable, no matter their size or effectiveness. Fossil fuels are another matter, even if more than 80% of energy comes from these sources. But do tax subsidies actually exist for fossil fuels? The best way to answer this question is to look at how taxes affect the allocation of capital in a country. If some industry activities bear higher taxes on new investments than others, they won’t be able to get as much financing from investors for capital projects. After all, investors can allocate their money anywhere around the world — what they care about is the after-tax return on their investments. If a country decides to tax an industry more than others, they will shift capital away from that industry toward others industries and the rest of the world. If taxes are low — the “subsidy” — more capital will be invested in that industry. In this case, it might be justified to level out taxes so all industries bear a similar burden in order to make better economic use of scarce resources. This is a matter of neutrality and efficiency, not a matter of killing subsidies.
View complete article: http://fullcomment.nationalpost.com/2010/06/03/oil-isnt-subsidized/
URB says filings inaccurate; Heritage plans 40% rate hike by 2019
It was a brutal day for Heritage Gas and its president, Ray Ritcey, who was hauled over the coals, on June 4th, by government regulators for repeatedly filing inaccurate financial information. Utility and Review Board chairman Peter Gurnham accused the gas company of using a special account as its own “piggy bank" to hire eight new staff members and build the pipeline utility without board approval. “How do we as a board prop¬erly regulate you?" asked Gurn¬ham. “How does that allow for board oversight? I don’t see how that works." Ritcey and the company’s vice-president of finance, Chris Smith, were before regulators to explain how and when the company would recover the startup costs of building a nat¬ural gas pipeline system, which it was awarded in 2003. “Clearly, Mr. Chair, in hind¬sight we probably should have, and in the future we will be here," Ritcey said. It was revealed for the first time that Heritage Gas plans to recoup those costs by hiking customers’ natural gas delivery rates by 40 per cent over the next decade. The company currently has 2,600 customers hooked up to natural gas. John Merrick, Nova Scotia’s consumer advocate, expressed concerns about this proposal by the company. He asked whether Heritage Gas customers “could reason¬ably expect" to know this could happen when they signed up for natural gas to heat their homes and businesses. “I assume they are not made aware with the package comes a pretty steady rate increase, fairly significant numbers, over the next nine years," said Mer¬rick. Heritage Gas is planning for rate increases in 2012 of 12 per cent, eight per cent in 2013 and 2.5 per cent increases in each year thereafter until 2019. Ritcey said the proposed rate increases are based on assump-tions in long-term planning from a “reasonable point of view," and gas customers have received significant economic and environmental savings. Heritage Gas is seeking ap¬proval to spend $31 million to expand into the Bedford area over the next five years. But this expansion plan hit a snag last month when questions arose about the company’s ever-changing financial fore¬casts — specifically the revenue deficiency account, which is now expected to be 50 per cent higher than forecast a year ago. The account is expected to peak at $47.9 million in 2012 and fall to $2.3 million in 2020.
View complete article: http://thechronicleherald.ca/Business/9016711.html
Export sector to boom in Nova Scotia
Natural gas exports key driver behind export growth in 2011
Nova Scotia's export sector will emerge from the doldrums and actually outperform the
rest of the country over the next two years. The province will see its international exports climb 12 per cent this year, states a provincial export forecast, released by Export Development Canada (EDC). The report, released May 28th in Halifax, also predicts Nova Scotia exports will soar by 17 per cent in 2011 - a level of growth that will outperform the other provinces. Such numbers signal a huge turnaround for Nova Scotia's export sector. Peter Hall, the chief economist at EDC, says Nova Scotia's improvement will be fuelled by increased American demand for the province's main exports: natural gas, fish, tires, and newsprint. According to Hall, natural gas exports will be a key driver behind the province's "exceptional" export growth in 2011. The energy sector, which accounts for 15 per cent of the province's exports, is expected to strengthen over the next two years. According to the EDC report, Nova Scotia's energy sector is expected to grow by 21 per cent in 2010 and by a whopping 57 per cent in 2011. Part of that surge will come from the launch of the Deep Panuke offshore project, which Hall says will push exports up significantly. "As long as we have relatively high prices out there, the incentive to continue exploration and development in the rich offshore fields remains there," said Hall, currently on a 21-city tour of Canada, updating the provinces on their export prospects.
View complete article: http://telegraphjournal.canadaeast.com/rss/article/1069433
Wind turbines on way
Project machinery to start arriving in July
The Bedford renewable energy company signed a contract Friday with Enercon Canada Ltd. for wind turbines and a 20-year operational and maintenance agreement for an estimated $100 million. (Enercon Canada Ltd. is a subsidiary of German-based Enercon GmbH.) The company is developing the $170-million Glen Dhu wind power project that straddles Antigonish and Pictou counties. It is scheduled to start generating electricity later this year. Shear Wind’s Mike Magnus said the company will take delivery of between 26 and 28 Enercon E-82 turbines, starting in July and August. The turbines, which generate 2.3 megawatts, have been described as a "gearless turbine" that emits no mechanical sounds. "We spent a lot of time looking at different options. We’re certainly happy with the decision. It’s more than just making a one-off decision. We analyzed about half a dozen different options and Enercon kept scoring well," Magnus said. After delivery, installation of the state
View complete article: http://thechronicleherald.ca/Business/1185194.html
Back to the energy future
One of the less publicized criticisms of the late and largely unlamented deal to sell much of NB Power to Hydro-Quebec related to the strikingly short time frame in which it promised to deliver happy results to the province. Energy experts - at least, those not aligned to the Liberal government's position - warned that nothing beneficial in this industry ever accrues over a period of scant years. Claims to the contrary, they said, only proved that policy makers, in their well-intentioned haste to reduce prices and pay off debt, hadn't done their homework. When it comes to electricity generation, they insisted, achieving true and durable efficacy is a decades-long struggle with technology Brunswick Brunswick Brunswick
View complete Article: http://timestranscript.canadaeast.com/opinion/article/1075103
Wind Farm Construction Begins in Point Tupper
Very soon, 22MW capacity of clean renewable electricity will be added to the electrical grid in Nova Scotia thanks to the construction of 11 new German-made Enercon E-82 wind turbines the Strait Area. The turbines are being installed by Renewable Energy Services Ltd (RESL) of Sackville, Nova Scotia and are being connected to the provincial grid by way of a Power Purchase Agreement with Nova Scotia Power Inc. "The project is currently going as planned with three turbine installations complete as of May 26th, and the fourth is currently being constructed," says Larry Leblanc, RESL President and CEO. "We anticipate that the project will be complete later this summer," added Leblanc. The project is targeted to go into operation by the fall of 2010. "This current project is one of several that will help the provincial government reach its target technology
For more information on Renewable Energy Services Ltd., please visit: www.resl.ca/home.html
For more information on Strait-Highlands Green Action, visit: www.straithighlandsgreenaction.ca
View complete article: http://www.strait-highlands.ns.ca/SHRDA/SHRDA_Main.nsf/71931edcae0b013a8425726e00640367/9c5bdfa335ddbf15842577300048029f?OpenDocument
Green projects get total of $575,000 from N.S.
Clare company’s project among those receiving total of $570,000 from province
Several Nova Scotia businesses and municipalities are getting more than $570,000 in provincial funding for projects that will help reduce greenhouse gases and air pollutants. The cash is coming from the ecoNova Scotia Fund for Clean Air and Climate Change. "The funding for these projects will help Nova Scotia reduce the air emissions that lead to climate change and help make life better for families in every region," Environment Minister Sterling Belliveau said in a May news release. 
The Region of Queens Municipality is receiving $137,150 toward the energy-efficient construction of the new Queens Place recreation centre, as well as $10,000 for an energy audit. Bridgewater gets $105,000 to install solar hot air and water panels for five municipal buildings and to upgrade lighting at Bridgewater Memorial Arena. Other municipalities will get $5,000 to $28,000 for projects involving solar hot air and water panels, refrigeration-plant retrofits and wind turbines. Clare Machine Works in Clare, Digby County, is getting $107,000 to develop improved lobster traps that may lead to less boat travel to set and retrieve the traps. Rainbow Net and Rigging will use $94,000 for a new facility in Chester to sanitize and repair nylon aquaculture nets. The Mersey Tobeatic Research Institute will get $56,526 to retrofit a field station to demonstrate a carbon-neutral building. The Environment Department says the projects receiving funding are expected to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by about 17,000 tonnes — equal to taking 3,900 cars off the road — and cut more than 450,000 kilograms of major air pollutants such as sulphur dioxide and nitrogen oxide.
View article: http://thechronicleherald.ca/NovaScotia/1184772.html
Minister Goodyear Announces Major Research Project in Nova Scotia
Canadians could soon see renewable fuels produced on a large scale from algae grown in Nova Scotia. Speaking in Halifax, the Honourable Gary Goodyear, Minister of State (Science and Technology technology
The project received approximately $5 million through the National Bioproducts Program and NRC-IMB. Preliminary work and engineering plans have been drawn up to build a 50,000 litre cultivation pilot plant at the Ketch Harbour facility. A main component to help the algae grow will be carbon dioxide emissions from fossil fuel combustion. Carbon2Algae, an industrial partner in the effort, eventually plans to operate algae photobioreactors that will capture carbon dioxide from facilities like the Alberta oil sands or coal-fired power plants, and use these emissions to allow local strains of algae to thrive. Researchers at the Marine Research Station in Ketch Harbour, Nova Scotia, have been growing algae for over 50 years. In assessing how best to grow algae for biofuel, NRC has joined forces with the United States Department of Energy, the National Renewable Energy Laboratory in Colorado and Sandia National Laboratories
For more information Contact:
National Research Council Canada
Media Relations
613-991-1431
media@nrc-cnrc.gc.ca
http://www.nrc-cnrc.gc.ca/eng/projects/nbp/biofuels.html
View Complete Article: http://www.poten.com/NewsDetails.aspx?id=10426775
Province Seeks Input on Renewable Electricity Regulations
People and organizations with an interest in renewable electricity generation are invited to comment on draft regulations designed to guide the implementation of the province’s new renewable electricity plan. Minister of Energy Bill Estabrooks said May 31, the regulations are in draft form so that interested groups can provide input before they are finalized later this summer. “These changes will help create good jobs and grow the economy across every region of the province,” said Mr. Estabrooks. “Nova Scotians have already played a major role in creating our renewable electricity plan. We look forward to their continued involvement this spring and summer to help ensure the final regulations get us to our targets.” Earlier this spring, government introduced its plan to achieve 25 per cent renewable electricity by 2015, and set a goal of 40 per cent renewable electricity by 2020. Legislation supporting the plan was passed earlier this month. The regulations establish eligibility for community-based projects and a process for determining how they get paid, along with a special process to support the next stage of tidal development. They also establish a new renewable electricity administrator to manage bids for larger projects from independent power producers.
Copies of the Renewable Electricity Plan and the draft regulations are available online on the Department of Energy website at www.gov.ns.ca/energy or by calling 902-424-8802.
Submissions can be made by e-mail to renewableregs@gov.ns.ca or in writing to, Department of Energy, Renewable Regulations, 400-5151 George St., P.O. Box 2664, Halifax, N.S., B3J 3P7. The deadline for submissions is July 23.
A series of public meetings will be held around the province later this spring to discuss the regulations. Check the department website in the coming weeks for consultation dates and locations.
For more information visit: http://www.canadaviews.ca/2010/05/31/province-seeks-input-on-renewable-electricity-regulations/
TEACHERS RESOURCES
ElectroCity
This online sim game that has been developed specifically for teachers and students between Years 7 and 9. Students build and manage their own virtual towns and cities, making important decisions and learning about energy generation, environmental management and many more practical and relevant concepts. There is plenty of real-world information built into the game and kids can put that information to good use in their own cities.
Visit: http://www.electrocity.co.nz/
Teachers' Workshop
This site provides workshops for teachers about teaching energy and engineering. There are PowerPoint slides with audio and a written guide for each section of the workshop.
There are also a number of ideas to try in the classroom:
Future Fuels-This presentation explores some of the energy sources that may be used in the future.
What is Energy Engineering? -This presentation outlines what is meant by energy engineering and also explores some of the issues around maintaining a supply of electricity in the future.
Initiatives - This presentation reviews some of the national schemes that can be used to support and enhance the teaching of energy in the curriculum.
Classroom Ideas - This section provides a range of ideas for teaching energy to pupils aged 7-19 years.
Visit: http://www.energyzone.net/aboutenergy/teachers-workshop.asp
Considering an EFS Presentation in Your School?
Teachers or educational groups interested in hosting a full day or mini series EFS program are invited to contact us by calling 902-454-4329 or e-mail info@energyconsultant.ca
Your Ideas Count
Educators are invited to submit ideas & suggestions for information you would like to see made available to assist in both classroom and career planning, or for future newsletters by clicking here!
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May '10
Newsletter
12-YEAR RETROSPECTIVE ON NATURAL GAS PRODUCTION IN NOVA SCOTIA
Report Shows Natural Gas Industry Creates Jobs, Grows Economy
A report released April 30, shows Nova Scotia's offshore natural gas industry employed about 3,200 Nova Scotians annually between 1996 and 2007. The jobs, both direct and indirect, include a variety of professional, trades, and technical areas, for a total income of more than $115 million a year. "The oil and gas industry is a cornerstone of Nova Scotia's economy providing thousands of good jobs and attracting international investment," said Energy Minister Bill Estabrooks. "This report shows that the first 12 years of our industry accomplished a lot including a new pipeline, world-class education and training facilities, advanced research and development capabilities." The report, entitled A 12-Year Retrospective on Natural Gas Production in Nova Scotia, also shows the industry generated $1.5 billion in royalties between 1996 to 2008 -- helping pay for hospitals, schools, and debt reduction. "I want to see the next 12 years go even further, both for our economy and for the role natural gas can play in meeting our 2020 renewable target
The report also found:
–- oil and gas extraction was the largest of the resource sectors accounting for an average of about three per cent of Nova Scotia's GDP between 2003-07.
-- spending of over $9 billion for offshore development and production from 1996 to 2008, about $2.5 billion directly within Nova Scotia.
The 12-year retrospective report is available online at: www.gov.ns.ca/energy/12-year-report/
View complete article: http://gov.ns.ca/news/details.asp?id=20100430005
PROJECT MAY HIKE NSP RATES
C.B. wind farm concerns utility customers
Nova Scotians could ultimately face higher power bills if the utility invests in a struggling wind farm in Cape Breton. The bills likely won’t go up for the first two years, says the lawyer representing a group of Nova Scotia Power’s largest customers, but after that Nova Scotians will have to pay more. The group wants the board to "carefully scrutinize the economics" of a wind deal between Nova Scotia Power and Renewable Energy Services Ltd. (RESL) of Lower Sackville. The utility is seeking approval of its agreement to partner with RESL and spend $27.7 million to build and construct a wind farm planned for the Strait area that would come online later this year. The $55-million project is to produce 22.5 megawatts of electricity from 11 turbines, enough energy for about 6,000 homes. The utility and its parent company, Emera Inc., now have ownership stakes in three of the six wind power projects for which Nova Scotia Power signed power purchase agreements in 2008. The provincial government ordered Nova Scotia Power to have five per cent of its total electricity purchases generated by independent power producers from renewable energy sources by the end of 2011. The legislation was supposed to encourage competition in the marketplace and allow independent power producers to get a toehold in the province.
View complete article:http://thechronicleherald.ca/Business/1181189.html
ADVOCATE POWER HIKE NOT JUSTIFIED
Utility wants $2 monthly to fund energy-efficiency programs
Nova Scotia Power has failed to prove that hiking power rates $2 a month to cover the costs of its proposed energy-efficiency programs is good use of customers’ money, says provincial consumer advocate John Merrick. The power company hasn’t explained which energy conservation programs are a priority and how they will be evaluated, argues Merrick in a final submission to the Nova Scotia Utility and Review Board recently. The board held hearings last month into Nova Scotia Power’s request to spend $41.9 million in 2011 on energy conservation programs for its customers. These conservation measures include energy-saving light bulbs, expanding a small business lighting program and $200 rebates on energy-efficient clothes washers. Before any new conservation programs are approved in the future, Merrick argues there should be objectives and prioritization. Nova Scotia Power wants to spend 3.5 per cent of the utility’s revenues, or $41.9 million, on energy conservation, which is among the highest rates in North America. The proposed budget for 2011 on energy efficiency would increase to $41.9 million from $22.6 million in 2010. The company argues that if customers reduce their electricity consumption it would generate savings of more than $190 million in fuel costs for the utility. It is hoping that by 2020, electricity consumption in the province could be five per cent lower that it is today. Fiona Traynor of the Affordable Energy Coalition pointed out that 50,000 renters in Nova Scotia are unable to take advantage of these programs, even though they fund the measures through paying their power bills. "This means that some of the poorest Nova Scotians, the majority of whom are renters, are seeing energy rates increase, with limited to no access to DSM (demand-side management) programming," she argued in a final submission. She argues many of these customers have already taken steps to reduce their energy costs and would not take advantage of these proposed programs. For example, she argues Nova Scotia Power has asked these customers to pay $310,000 for programs under new construction, but none of these customers would use the program, nor has the utility provided any evidence they would. The utility will transfer the implementation of the new conservation programs to a new government agency called Efficiency Nova Scotia Corp. later this year.
View Complete Article: http://thechronicleherald.ca/Business/1180673.html
CHANGES TO ELECTRICITY ACT SUPPORTS RENEWABLE GOALS
Renewable Electricity Plan
Nova Scotia is moving quickly to establish the legal foundation for the province's new Renewable Electricity Plan. Energy Minister Bill Estabrooks introduced amendments to the Electricity Act May 5 that will help Nova Scotians access clean, secure and locally-produced energy at stable prices. "These changes will move our Renewable Electricity Plan from a strategy into a reality," said Mr. Estabrooks. "For Nova Scotians it will mean good jobs and
a cleaner environment. These changes also help bring price stability to our electricity market over the long run." Mr. Estabrooks said the province is going to supply 25 per cent of its electricity from renewable sources by 2015. Draft regulations are expected to be released this summer to support these legislative amendments.
The province's Renewable Electricity Plan, as well as the legislative amendments, are available at www.gov.ns.ca/energy
View Complete Article: http://www.gov.ns.ca/news/details.asp?id=20100505003
WAY HEY, UP SHE RISES
Non-communicating Fundy test turbine to be hauled up
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Nova Scotia Power Inc. will pull its 400-tonne underwater turbine from the Bay of Fundy to fix a communication problem that has plagued the tidal experiment, utility president Rob Bennett said Wednesday. "Unfortunately, the underwater modem device is a relatively new addition to the project and that device is not working properly," he told about 150 shareholders at the utility’s annual meeting. The utility, along with its Irish partner, OpenHydro, installed the doughnut-shaped turbine in the Bay of Fundy’s Minas Passage last fall. It was the first commercial-scale tidal turbine to be placed in the bay. Attached to it were wireless sensors that were designed to transmit critical data on electrical production and environmental impact from under the water. "Unfortunately, that hasn’t worked out," Bennett told reporters. A date for when a specialized barge and crane will lift it out of the water has not been set, he said. The murky waters and strong current in the Bay of Fundy prevent divers from doing the repair work under the water.
This week Emera, owners of Nova Scotia Power, reported record first quarter profits of $77.1 million for the first three months of 2010, with the main driver being the electrical utility with contributions of $63.3 million. Huskilson said this transition from coal-burning power plants to renewable energy sources "is driving the largest capital program in Nova Scotia Power’s history." The company expects to invest $600 million in Nova Scotia Power this year, he said. Emera has also been on a spending spree lately, buying utilities in the Caribbean and other acquisitions in New Brunswick
View Complete Article: http://thechronicleherald.ca/Business/1180880.html
STOP BURNING BIOMASS, GREEN GROUP TELLS N.S.
The Ecology Action Centre wants the provincial government to impose a five-year moratorium on burning newly cut forest biomass for electricity. Jamie Simpson, the forestry program co-ordinator with the Halifax centre, said more study is needed to determine the effect of taking up to a million tonnes of material from forests for use as a designated renewable energy source. Calling biomass renewable means it counts toward provincial green energy targets. Simpson said the centre is not opposed to biomass burning that is already taking place, such as sawmills using sawdust and bark from their products to generate electricity. But it doesn’t want any new cutting of underused or low-value trees only for energy production. The centre believes taking more material from the forests will destroy habitat for birds and animals and affect fish because rivers and streams will lose shade and be affected by runoff and siltation caused by clearing trees and brush. It wants more time spent looking at real green energy, such as wind, solar and geothermal options. Natural Resources Minister John MacDonell said he hopes to develop new rules that help control the effects of clearcutting.
View complete article: http://thechronicleherald.ca/NovaScotia/1181103.html
UTILITY & REVIEW BOARD:
Couple, group can’t fight rezoning for wind farm
A retired couple and a local environmental group have lost their appeal of Antigonish County council’s decision to rezone land for a proposed wind farm. Donald and Helen Brown, who live near the site, and the Eco Awareness Society are not "aggrieved persons" as defined by the Municipal Government Act, says Roland Deveau of the Utility and Review Board. According to the Municipal Government Act, an "aggrieved person" is someone who believes a council decision "will adversely affect the value, or reasonable enjoyment" of that person’s property. The dispute started after county council approved the rezoning of nine properties in February. The rezoning opened the door for Shear Wind Inc. of Bedford to proceed with the $150-million Glen Dhu wind-power project with 30 turbines along the boundary of Antigonish and Pictou counties. In evidence filed to the review board, the Browns alleged they were "aggrieved persons" and that council’s decision would deny them their right to reasonable enjoyment of their property and that their proximity to the turbines would devalue their property . Brown is also concerned about the effect of wind turbines on people’s health and about the relatively short distance between the turbines and the nearest homes. From their home on Glendu Road in Baileys Brook, the Browns will be able to see eight turbines that will be within 1.5 kilometres of their residence.
View complete article: http://thechronicleherald.ca/Business/1181105.html
PROVINCE TO STUDY NEW JOB OPPORTUNITIES
IN GREEN ECONOMY
Nova Scotia's aggressive renewable energy goals will create new opportunities for jobs and economic growth, and the province wants local contractors and suppliers to take full advantage. Energy Minister Bill Estabrooks announced a new study to assess the business and research opportunities in the renewable energy sector, including wind, tidal and bio energy. "Our goal of 40 per cent renewable electricity by 2020 will put Nova Scotia in a position of global leadership," said Mr. Estabrooks. "This initiative will make Nova Scotia companies more aware of the opportunities for them as we strive to meet our goal." The $87,700 study, will help government and industry understand the capabilities, capacity and competitiveness of local companies working in the renewable energy sector. The study will evaluate Nova Scotia companies against regional, national and international standards and help identify any knowledge and capability gaps. Halifax-based SLR Consulting (Canada) Ltd. will conduct the study, one of 14 bidders for the project tendered Jan. 19. The company has worked in the renewable energy and supplier development fields, locally and internationally. The study is expected to be completed late this year.
View articles:
http://gov.ns.ca/news/details.asp?id=20100506005
http://thechronicleherald.ca/Business/1181060.html
5th ANNUAL
RENEWABLE ENERGY CONFERENCE 2010
"POWERING INVESTMENTS"
Over 200 delegates attended the 5th Annual Renewable Energy Conference: Powering Investments, on April 27-28 at the Westin Nova Scotia Hotel, to hear more than 30 experts discuss key renewable energy issues. Topics discussed at the conference included the emerging opportunities for wind, tidal, biomass, solar, geothermal projects, feed-in-tariffs, and why the Hydro-Quebec merger with New Brunswick Power went south and the ramifications to Atlantic Canada. "The renewable energy industry is developing more energy programs that can help improve our economy by creating new green industries and jobs," said Jim MacDougall, Manager of Electricity Resources with the Ontario Power Authority. “This event is an excellent way to bring together the industry’s key players who are leading the way in renewable energy.” During the conference, Mr. MacDougall addressed how Ontario successfully introduced the first comprehensive feed-in tariff (FIT) program in North America. He spoke to the value of a FIT program as a way to boost the renewable energy industry in Nova Scotia.
For more information visit: www.energyevent.ca
PROVINCE, STUDENTS SAVE ENERGY IN SCHOOLS
Schools Appreciating Valuable Energy (SAVE)
The province is investing in school renovations that will cut costs and save energy. Speaking at an Earth Day assembly at Dartmouth High School on April 22, Bill Estabrooks, Minister responsible for Conserve Nova Scotia, said $11.4-million in the 2010-11 budget for such improvements will make life more affordable by allowing schools across the province to cut operating costs and become more environmentally friendly. "Schools in every school board are completing a variety of energy retrofit construction projects to save energy, and be better for the environment," said Mr. Estabrooks. "Saving energy will help make more funding available for learning, and sets an excellent example for young Nova Scotians. " Projects include more energy-efficient lighting, replacing windows, upgrading energy management and building controls systems, and converting to natural gas. The students are getting into the act as well. Dartmouth High's Philosophy 12 class started Schools Appreciating Valuable Energy, or SAVE, during a unit on Environmental Philosophy. It encourages students to use less energy on a daily basis and monitors the results. "We brought the idea of SAVE to the Halifax school board and they were very receptive," said Will Andrea, a Grade 12 student at Dartmouth High. "They agreed to give us half the money our school saved on power, so it's a win-win situation."
View Complete Article: http://gov.ns.ca/news/details.asp?id=20100422005
NEW GERMANY SCHOOL PILOTS RENEWABLE ENERGY PROGRAM
The Energy Around Us
New Germany Rural High School's Grade 9 class is one of just a handful in Nova Scotia implementing a renewable energy pilot program. "It's exciting that the teachers here have accepted the challenge of this project," said Department of Energy director Ross McLaren during the school's renewable energy day on April 19. The program is called The Energy Around Us. "It's to get people like you Grade 9 students thinking about energy in our province, the resources we have, and to think critically about how we use them and about their effect on society, the economy and the environment." Science, social studies and language arts teachers are expected to develop classroom activities based on books and briefings from experts, a do-it-yourself
View Complete Article: http://www.southshorenow.ca/archives/2010/050410/news/index033.php
THE PRINCE OF FUNDY TIDES
N.S. has turbine in water while N.B. still studying sites
Nova Scotia has deployed an underwater test turbine in the Bay of Fundy and two other devices are set to be deployed over the next two years. Meanwhile, the New Brunswick Brunswick Brunswick Brunswick Brunswick Brunswick
View Complete Article: http://thechronicleherald.ca/Business/1179982.html
NOVA SCOTIA SKILLS COMPETITION & CAREER SHOWCASE
Students and apprentices have finished another year of intense provincial competition.
The 13th Annual Nova Scotia Skills Competition and Career Showcase took place throughout the month of April at various locations across the province. General public and school groups were invited to tour the competitions and participate in the interactive displays at the career showcase, This year, approximately 350 competitors took part while 1500 students toured through the events. The gold medal winners from eligible competitions will now go on to join Team
View competition results at: http://skillsns.ednet.ns.ca/competitions/results/
CANADIAN SKILLS COMPETITION
The Canadian Skills Competition (CSC) is the only national, Olympic-style, multi-trade and technology team technology technology
To visit the official website of the CSC, visit: www.skillscanada.com
http://skillsns.ednet.ns.ca/competitions/canadian-skills-competition/
2010 CANADA WIDE SCIENCE FAIR
Nova Scotia Participants
Nova Scotia Youth Experiences in Science (NS YES!) proudly displayed the province’s best science projects at McNally Auditorium at Saint Mary’s University on May 7 -8. The 37 award-winning projects from grades 7-12 covered such topics as: Do you want to know if antioxidants are always good? Are LED traffic technology technology
Team
STUDENT: Adrian Howie
REGION: Halifax
PROJECT TITLE: Arctic-Ceuticals
STUDENT: Chantal Surette
REGION: Conseil Scolaire Acadien Provincial
PROJECT TITLE: l'Appareil orque - une nouvelle façon de capter l'énergie dans les vagues
STUDENT: Alex Smith
REGION: Chignecto Central West
PROJECT TITLE: Seed Freeze
STUDENT: Briony Merritt
REGION: Halifax
PROJECT TITLE: Seeing Red: The Science Behind Colour in Marketing
STUDENT: Tim Cooper
REGION: Annapolis Valley
PROJECT TITLE: SWN: a multi-purpose scripting language
STUDENT: Roman Koszucki
REGION: Annapolis Valley
PROJECT TITLE: The Spill On Dawn
STUDENT: Hanna Longard
REGION: South Shore
PROJECT TITLE: Is Kindness Contagious?
STUDENT: Kirsten Ernst
REGION: South Shore
PROJECT TITLE: Can Different Swimming Strokes Affect Your Heart?
STUDENT: Elise Tessier
REGION: Annapolis Valley
PROJECT TITLE: Can Stress Bring Out the Best?
STUDENT: Alex Mann
REGION: South Shore
PROJECT TITLE: Up in the Air - VOC Production by Phytoplankton
STUDENT: Hannah Martin
REGION: Chignecto East
PROJECT TITLE: Complaining about Training
STUDENT: Peter Holland
EGION: Cape Breton-Victoria
PROJECT TITLE: Golf Balls
STUDENT: Robert Barrett
REGION: Cape Breton-Victoria
PROJECT TITLE: Knock Out: The Momentum of Kickboxers Punches
STUDENT NAME: Lauren Doane
REGION: Chignecto Central West
PROJECT TITLE: Lumière, Canettes et Couleur
STUDENT: Mitchell Hanna
REGION: Cape Breton-Victoria
PROJECT TITLE: Max VO2 vs. Resting Heart Rates
STUDENT: Ryan Garland & Brandon Holland
REGION: Halifax
PROJECT TITLE: Planaria Regeneration and Memory
STUDENT: Colin Hooper
REGION: Cape Breton-Victoria
PROJECT TITLE: Take A Bow
STUDENT: Rosa Poirier-McKiggan & Laura Rigg
REGION: Halifax
PROJECT TITLE: Trash Talk
STUDENT: Kurtis Turnbull
REGION: Chignecto East
PROJECT TITLE: A Radical Theory: Why Antioxidants May Not Always Be Good
STUDENT: Alex Ianta
REGION: Chignecto East
PROJECT TITLE: Semantic Genie
STUDENT: Rumana Rafiq
REGION: Chignecto Central West
PROJECT TITLE: Salty is Faulty
STUDENT: Juliana Ali
REGION: Chignecto East
PROJECT TITLE: Let The "D" Shine In
STUDENT: Kyle Lefort
REGION: Cape Breton-Victoria
PROJECT TITLE: C'est Courber: Mesurer l'indice de réfraction des solutions sucrées
STUDENT: Natalie Fisher
REGION: Chignecto Central West
PROJECT TITLE: Is Its Bark Worse Than Its Bite?
STUDENT: Emily Taylor
REGION: Chignecto Central West
PROJECT TITLE: The Pressure's On
STUDENT: Kelsey Keddy
REGION: Conseil Scolaire Acadien Provincial
PROJECT TITLE: Maximiser le potentiel d'énergie du moteur à combustion pétrolière
STUDENT: Macall Robinson
REGION: Annapolis Valley
PROJECT TITLE: Carbon Counts
STUDENT: Melissa Renn
REGION: Tri-County
PROJECT TITLE: L'Energie du Vent
STUDENT: Travis Landry
REGION: South Shore
PROJECT TITLE: Saving the World, One Turtle at a Time
STUDENT: Maxwell Poole
REGION: Tri-County
PROJECT TITLE: Reengineering LED Traffic
STUDENT: Ethan Minard
REGION: Tri-County
PROJECT TITLE: Comment Les Trains Maglev Traivaillent
STUDENT: Lauren Sylliboy
REGION: Mi’Kmaq
PROJECT TITLE: Is Personality related to Hand Gestures?
STUDENT: Riviera Marshall & Alitta Sylliboy
REGION: Mi’Kmaq
PROJECT TITLE: Invisible Plough
STUDENT: Chris Melchin
REGION: Strait
PROJECT TITLE: "Pine"-ing "Fir" Hydrocarbons
STUDENT: Arash Marzi
REGION: Strait
PROJECT TITLE: Achieving Copenhagen's International CO2 Targets with a Bee Inspired Optimizing Algorithm and Artifi
STUDENT: Ria Van der Linden
REGION: Strait
PROJECT TITLE: Fledglings and Fleas
STUDENT: Hannah Gillis
REGION: Strait
PROJECT TITLE: Emergency Measure Access Plans (EMAP)
Project descriptions for the Nova Scotia students are to be posted on the NS YES website.
For more information visit the below links:
The 2010 Canada Wide Science Fair site: http://www.cwsf2010.ca
Youth Science Canada: http://www.ysf-fsj.ca/Competitions/CWSF/
NS Youth Experiences in Science (YES): http://www.sciencefairinfo.ns.ca/nsyes/programs.php
TEACHER RESOURCES
EcoMentors Program
Youth play an important role in environmental education. Earth Day Canada’s EcoMentors program provides the opportunity, training and resources for youth to be active leaders in raising awareness and promoting positive change in support of a healthier environment. EcoMentors training sessions are open to all youth and are provided free of charge. Explore how you can encourage positive awareness and action as an EcoMentor. Get volunteer hours, valuable skills and experiences, certification, rewards packages, references, and much, much more!
Visit: http://www.ecomentors.ca/pub/
ECOKids
How energy Efficient are you? Take the quiz and find out how much you know about reducing energy and greenhouse gases.
To start, chose a room in the house. Search for questions by clicking on things in the room. As you answer the questions you'll find out some cool facts about how you can save energy around the house.
Visit: http://www.ecokids.ca/pub/eco_info/topics/energy/energy_efficient/index.cfm
Green Street - Teachers' Café
Green Street has long been Canada's trusted clearinghouse for quality educational programs from environmental organizations. Working with Program Partners, Green Street links you to a learning community of people who are taking action for the environment and social justice, in and with schools across Canada. Find out how you can access opportunities to benefit your classroom.
Visit: http://www.ecokids.ca/pub/eco_info/topics/energy/energy_efficient/index.cfm
Energy Links
CAPP – The Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers (CAPP) now has information on drilling in Canada’s offshore linked directly from their main landing page at www.capp.ca
Alliant Energy - Geothermal - Contains Information on Geothermal Technology
Visit: http://www.alliantenergygeothermal.com/HowItWorks/index.htm
Igniting Creative Energy Challenge - An educational competition designed to encourage students to learn more about energy and the environment.
Visit: http://www.ignitingcreativeenergy.org/guidelines1.html
April '10
Newsletter
NEW DEEP PANUKE NEWSLETTER NOW AVAILABLE
The March edition of the newsletter for Encana’s Deep Panuke natural gas project is now available. Click here for the latest updates on Deep Panuke, currently being developed in Nova Scotia’s offshore.
Link to newsletter: www.encana.com/deeppanuke
SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAMS
EnCana High School Scholarship program
Encana Corporation is introducing the Encana High School Scholarship program to the eight public school boards in Nova Scotia. The scholarship program is available to Nova Scotia public school students graduating from Grade 12 who intend to pursue studies in engineering, geology, geophysics or trades training related to the offshore oil and gas industry.
Up to eight scholarships will be awarded in 2010 – one for each public school board in Nova Scotia. The scholar ship will be disbursed in payments of $2,500 per year for up to four years, for a total of $10,000, provided the recipient remains enrolled in full-time studies. Students submit their applications to their respective school board; the school board decides which student from that board receives the scholarship.
Information on the Encana High School Scholarship can be obtained via your school board or by calling 1-403-645-2000 or by e-mailing: dpinfo@encana.com.
Toyota Earth Day Scholarship Program
Toyota Canada Inc. and Earth Day Canada established the Toyota Earth Day Scholarship Program to help cultivate and nurture this environmental leadership. The Toyota Earth Day Scholarship Program encourages and rewards graduating Canadian high school students who have distinguished themselves through environmental community service, extracurricular and volunteer activities, and academic excellence.
The program grants 20 awards of $5000 each annually, to be applied directly towards tuition, books, room and board (where applicable) or other educational expenses for the first year of post-secondary full-time studies in Canada. A national winner - selected from the 20 regional winners - will also be awarded the Toyota Earth Day Scholarship National Award and a Panasonic notebook computer at the National Award Ceremony.
For more information visit: http://www.earthday.ca/scholarship/about.php
The Pengrowth - Nova Scotia Energy Scholarship Program
The Pengrowth-Nova Scotia Energy Scholarship Program encourages students graduating from Nova Scotia high schools to pursue a career in the energy sector. Scholarships are offered to students entering university or community college after completing Grade 12 at any Nova Scotia high school. Up to 12 scholarships, disbursed in payments of $2,500 per year for four years, are awarded annually to students pursuing energy-related studies at a university. The program also offers up to ten non-renewable $2,500 scholarships for first-year students pursuing energy-related trades and technology
Application Deadlines
Energy Scholarship Program - University -Deadline: April 30, 2010
Energy Scholarship Program - Community College -Deadline: May 7, 2010
For more information visit: http://www.gov.ns.ca/energy/careers-training/scholarship-program.asp
OPTIONS AND OPPORTUNITIES (O2)
Showcase and Workshop
The Options and Opportunities (O2) program will be holding its annual showcase event on May 27, 2010, the evening before this year's final professional development workshop, bringing teachers, administrators, and key partners together to celebrate your students' successes and achievements.
O2 is a new high school program offering students more hands-on learning experiences with a career focus. It's designed to prepare students for successful transitions from high school to work, a career path, or a post-secondary program The showcase will highlight the stories and experiences of educators, students, and employers with displays including samples of student work, evidence of improvements in attendance and achievement, examples of student Life Work portfolios, photos of field trips and community-based learning activities, accounts of co-operative education experiences, videos, PowerPoint presentations, multimedia displays, and student projects and demonstrations.
The event is open to the public and will take place May 27, from 6:30 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. at the Holiday Inn Halifax Harbourview, 101 Wyse Road, Dartmouth NS.
For more information please visit: http://www.ednet.ns.ca/O2/
April 22, 2010 marks the 40th anniversary of Earth Day in North America and the 20th Anniversary of Earth Day Canada. Throughout April local Earth Day events and activities will engage over 6 million Canadians and virtually every school-aged child in the country.
Find out what Earth Day events are taking place in NS: http://www.earthday.ca/pub/events/search/shell_summary_public.php?prov=Nova%20Scotia&accessibility=public
For more information visit: http://earthdaycanada.cmail4.com/t/y/l/ohdiur/oxtthlku/o
NOVA SCOTIA STUDENTS CELEBRATE
NATIONAL YOUTH SCIENCE MONTH
During March and April, students from across the province will showcase their talents, abilities and creativity at a series of regional science fairs as a part of National Youth Science Month. Youth Science Month was created by Youth Science Canada to acknowledge the interesting and innovative discoveries students are making in science. "Students are naturally curious, and science gives them an opportunity to explore their interests, and make decisions about some really exciting and complex things," said Joyce Morrison, principal of Greenfield Elementary in New Waterford. "If you give students the right tools and learning environment, they will explore."
Projects like the Tomatosphere work to promote exploration and fun learning. Tomatoshpere is an educational outreach project that teaches thousands of students from across the country about space, food and nutrition. Using tomato seeds that have travelled from Earth to the International Space Station and back, students are meant to discover ways to provide nutritious foods for space living that will support space crews for long periods of time. Hundreds of Nova Scotia students have participated in Tomatoshpere with great success.
"Science is no longer predominately about reading and researching, it is about doing and thinking," said Marilyn Webster, science consultant for the Department of Education. "Exploring using skills and critical inquiry engages the students in their learning and this produces questioners and thinkers." The Energy Around Us program teaches discovery through experimentation. A joint initiative of the departments of Education and Energy, the program gets Grade 9 students thinking about alternate energy sources and comparing them to wind. A series of resources will be provided to selected classrooms across the province to help students develop a deeper understanding of sustainable development issues, including the connection between energy and climate change. Students will also be challenged to come up with ideas around what they can do to make a difference in their communities through renewable energy. Students will present their findings during a celebration event in June. For more information about The Energy
Around Us Program, visit: www.sciencefairinfo.ns.ca
To view complete article visit: http://www.gov.ns.ca/news/details.asp?id=20100311001
LOONIE A LIFT FOR PROJECT
Wind farm developer will soon buy 30 turbines
In his former job as a Nova Scotia seafood executive, Mike Magnus, president of Shear Wind Inc. of Bedford, never talked about the benefits of a higher Canadian dollar. But these days, the former Clearwater vice-president turned wind developer is downright ecstatic with the loonie reaching parity with the U.S. greenback. Shear Wind executives are in the final stages of negotiations to purchase 30 wind turbines from either a European or U.S. supplier for the company’s proposed $150-million Glen Dhu wind farm located along the border of Pictou and Antigonish counties.
"We’ve been non-committal because of where the Canadian dollar has changed dramatically over the last three months and 12 months," he said. The company is trying to secure financing after it tried unsuccessfully last year, as the entire wind market was slowed by the global financial crisis. He said the company has two options: either European banks or North American life insurance companies. The Glen Dhu project was supposed to be operating by now, but Shear Wind was unable to get financing. Then late last year, Inveravante, a privately held Spanish utility conglomerate, bought a 62 percent stake in Shear Wind for $27 million.
To view complete article visit: http://thechronicleherald.ca/Business/1176358.html
NATURAL GAS PRICE DROP BEHIND HST HIKE
A leading Canadian economist has blamed Nova Scotia’s new 15 percent HST on sluggish natural gas markets. "The provincial government had to resort to an increase in the value-added tax when anticipated natural gas revenues did not materialize," says Avery Shenfeld, chief economist at CIBC World Markets. He said opposition to the Dexter government’s decision to increase the HST by two percentage points was to be expected, even if the move has merit from an economic point of view. The tax hike was part of Finance Minister Graham Steele’s 2010-2011 budget tabled April 6th, 2010."Governments do not often have good news when it is time for restraint," the economist said.
NATURAL GAS PRICES MAY BURN PROVINCE
The Nova Scotia government is betting on higher natural gas prices this year, but it seems events are conspiring against a windfall of cash coming from the offshore. The higher price is necessary if the government is to achieve the offshore revenue targets outlined in its recent budget. In 2009-10, the government reported offshore natural gas revenues came in at $110.8 million, well below the $151 million it had projected. In the budget released April 6, the NDP government indicated it is now optimistically estimating offshore royalty revenue of $173.6 million in fiscal 2010-11.
Depressed natural gas prices helped to lower provincial revenues in 2009-10. Avery Shenfeld, chief economist at CIBC World Markets, indicated that he believes the Nova Scotia government was forced to increase the HST when the anticipated offshore royalty revenues failed to materialize. Gas prices may improve but the rising Canadian dollar is also helping to suppress the benefits coming to the provincial government. Past governments have benefitted from a gain on the currency conversion from payments made in U.S. greenbacks and converted to a much lower loonie. That also demonstrates just how vulnerable the Nova Scotia government is to unexpected price reversals or something going wrong offshore.
The Conference Board of Canada, which bills itself as the foremost independent, not-for-profit, applied research
To view complete articles visit:
http://thechronicleherald.ca/Business/1176094.html
http://thechronicleherald.ca/Business/1176430.html
PROVINCE PLANS FOR FUTURE TIDAL ENERGY TESTING
Nova Scotia is inviting expressions of interest from tidal developers around the world to participate in the Bay of Fundy tidal energy project in the future. The invitation was designed to gauge developers' interest and readiness to demonstrate a tidal device as spots become available at FORCE (Fundy Ocean Research Centre for Energy). The invitation includes potential projects inside the approved FORCE site boundary in the Minas Passage only. The invitation is for information purposes so companies that don't apply will not be excluded from future selection processes.
"Tidal energy has the potential to become a key part of our future energy mix," said Energy Minister Bill Estabrooks. "But Nova Scotians want to see how these devices interact with the Bay of Fundy before considering larger development.” FORCE is already home to one tidal technology
More information on the tidal project is available at: www.fundyforce.ca.
To view complete article visit: http://www.fundyforce.ca/news/view/35
FORK IN ROAD TO RENEWABLES
Feed-in tariffs are green light to community vitality
In Canada, only Alberta relies more heavily on coal to generate its electricity than Nova
Scotia. This reliance makes Nova Scotians particularly vulnerable to price hikes, as carbon pollution becomes more stringently regulated. Fortunately, Nova Scotia has started its transition to a cleaner energy future by planning to generate at least 25 percent of electricity from renewable resources by 2015. The newly formed Nova Scotia Sustainable Electricity Alliance (novaSEA: www.novasea.ca) is a growing coalition including First Nations, unions, farmers, developers, and environmental protection groups, which has come together to ensure that forthcoming policies pave the way to renewables that will benefit Nova Scotians as much as possible.
NovaSEA encourages a policy in which local communities and individuals are part of renewable power development. This path will retain energy, investment, and tax dollars in the province while moving Nova Scotia towards energy independence. By creating community-owned renewable energy projects, Nova Scotians will have an opportunity to invest in the province and reduce the coal price tag
To view complete article visit: http://thechronicleherald.ca/Columnists/1174823.html
COUNTY COUNCIL PASSES INTERM WIND TURBINE BYLAW
Review in one year; public consultation in the meantime
Annapolis County Warden Peter Newton said council’s decision to pass final reading of an interim wind turbine bylaw during a special council on March 23, wasn’t intended to shut out potential wind farm developers; but rather allow council time to develop a bylaw that is right for the county and ensure residents have the opportunity to be included in any decisions made in this regard. CAO Brenda Orchard
To view complete article visit: http://www.annapoliscountyspectator.ca/News/2010-04-01/article-977796/County-council-passes-interim-wind-turbine-bylaw/1
CANADIAN SKILLS COMPETITION
The Canadian Skills Competition (CSC) is the only national, Olympic-style, multi-trade and technology team technology technology
The 2010 Canadian Skills Competition is also a qualifying year for WorldSkills, which will take place in London, England, 2011. The 2010 CSC will be hosted in Waterloo, ON (May 20 – 23).
Visit the official website of the CSC at: www.skillscanada.com
BIOMASS PLANT PROPOSED
NSP and NewPage partner on $200m facility to power 50,000 homes
Nova Scotia Power is hoping it will have more success the second time around in getting approval to spend $200 million to fire up a new biomass generation facility with papermaker NewPage Port Hawkesbury. The biomass-fuelled plant at the Cape Breton mill could supply Nova Scotians with approximately three percent of the province’s total electricity requirement, enough for about 50,000 homes annually."We are working with one of our largest customers to sustainably displace imported fossil fuels, a project that will benefit the environment and economy in Nova Scotia," says Robin McAdam, vice-president of sustainability for Nova Scotia Power.
The proposed project is targeting an in-service date of late 2012 and must get regulatory approval from the Utility and Review Board, which rejected a similar bid."We think the economics are a bit better than last time and the impact to ratepayers is favourable," said McAdam. "There are a few things different. It is not structured as a power purchase agreement anymore," said McAdam. Also, the proposed project has received the blessing of Nova Scotia Power’s board of directors in advance of regulatory hearings, he said. In the previous application, the utility’s board had not sanctioned the project before it went before government regulators.
Nova Scotia Power will pay NewPage an undisclosed amount for fuel supply and operating services over the 40-year life of the project, said McAdam. As the key investor, Nova Scotia Power wants to spend $93 million in construction costs for new facilities, $80 million to purchase assets from NewPage, and other related costs. NewPage will be responsible for the construction and operation of the plant. The energy project is expected to create an estimated 150 jobs in northern Nova Scotia, primarily in the forestry sector, in addition to maintaining the Port Hawkesbury mill’s existing workforce of about 550 employees, said Bill Stewart, NewPage director of woodlands and strategic initiatives.
To view complete article visit: http://thechronicleherald.ca/Business/1175769.html
OPPOSITION OVER BIOMASS PLAN
Provincial woodlot owners and Nova Scotia’s largest environmental group will be lining up against Nova Scotia Power Inc.’s proposed $200-million power plant fuelled by burning wood waste in Cape Breton. The groups are concerned about Nova Scotia Power using forest biomass at a new power plant at NewPage Port Hawkesbury Corp.’s mill in Cape Breton to meet tough new pollution regulations."No one is really presenting any evidence that it is sustainable. . . . There is no science to suggest it is a sustainable practice," said Wade Prest, a small woodlot owner and director of the Nova Scotia Woodlot Owners and Operators Association.
Jamie Simpson, a forester with the Ecology Action Centre in Halifax, opposes the proposed biomass project, and said burning wood will add more carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. "In the short term, it’s actually worse than burning coal. It’s actually 17 percent more carbon going into the atmosphere per unit of energy produced than you get if you are burning coal," said Simpson. "I still think we have more sensible ways to produce our renewable energy." Simpson opposes the project and recommends using farm-based biomass in the near term.
Only "stem wood" will be used in the project’s biomass energy generation. Tree stumps, tops and branches will not be removed from the forest floor, as they are necessary in restoring nutrients to the soil so new trees can grow, says NewPage. "Clearly it is sustainable," said Bill Stewart, NewPage director of woodlands and strategic initiatives, on Monday.
To view complete article visit: http://thechronicleherald.ca/Business/1175963.html
ENERGY TALKS STILL ON WITH P.E.I. AND N.S., QUEBEC INSISTS
The Quebec government's decision to call off a multibillion-dollar energy deal with New Brunswick
To view complete article visit: http://www.montrealgazette.com/energy+talks+still+Quebec+insists/2726154/story.html
TEACHERS RESOURCES
Natural Gas End Use Primer
Encana has created a new four page primer explaining where natural gas comes from, how it’s used and how it can create cleaner air.
To download visit: http://www.encana.com/operations/gas/pdfs/natural-gas-end-use.pdf
This site has an interactive quiz where students make choices for Bobby and find out how these choices effect his Ecological Footprint. For teachers there are five day Ecological Footprint-based lessons for elementary and middle school classrooms, covering measuring ecological footprint, classroom composting, energy is everywhere, the web of life and waste walk
For more information visit : http://www.kidsfootprint.org/index.html
The Great EcoKids Challenge
Deadline for entries is April 30, 2010
The Great EcoKids Challenge is a national contest where students work together on a single project that results in positive environmental change. This year’s Challenge theme is ENERGY. Projects should involve as many people from your school and community as possible. Earth Day Canada is challenging youth groups and educators across Canada to take environmental action in their school and community. Any Canadian kids from kindergarten to grade 8 (elementary school class, extra-curricular club, girl guides or scouts group) can participate as long as they are a registered member of the EcoKids program.
For more information visit: http://www.ecokids.ca/pub/challenge/about.cfm
Nova Scotia’s Energy Map Coming This Month
You will be notified by email that the new version of the online energy map will be available on our website in the coming days.
Energy Links
OilandGas Info.ca
Visit oilandgasinfo.ca, for answers to questions about Canada’s oil and gas. Questions like: What’s a royalty? How is the price of gasoline set? How does the oil and gas industry work? What products are made from oil and gas?
For more useful energy links visit the Energy For students Energy Link page:
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