New $4 billion wind farm in the cards for coast of south west Nova Scotia

HALIFAX – A $4 billion wind farm could be on its way to the coast of Nova Scotia.

Beothuk Energy, a firm in St. John’s Newfoundland and Labrador, wants to put about 120 large windmills in shallow water about 20 kilometres offshore near Yarmouth.

The 1,000-megawatt wind farm would generate electricity that would primarily be exported to New England using sub-sea cables.

The project is still in its early stages of the application process, according to company president Kirby Mercer.

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“When we start to commission this and do early stuff, I would say it would take about five years for construction for the first phase. Not the full 1000 megawatts; you may see 400 megawatts or 300 come on and we’ll edge it up,” he said.

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Offshore wind farms produce green energy and have little environmental impact, Mercer said.  He added that his company is paying close attention to the concerns of lobster fishermen in the area, knowing it’s such an important industry for the province.

First Nations communities, environmental groups, fishermen and other stakeholders will be consulted in the new year as part of the process.