The Government of Nova Scotia today announced a welcome commitment to support the long-term sustainability of the solar industry in this province.
Ottawa, February 2, 2022 — The Canadian Renewable Energy Association (CanREA) applauds the Government of Nova Scotia for their commitment to protecting the province’s solar industry.
As announced today, the Government will bring forward a legislative and regulatory framework necessary to protect ratepayers and the solar industry in Nova Scotia from a financial penalty on solar net metering, as proposed in January by Nova Scotia Power in the utility’s 2022 General Rate Application. Read CanREA’s statement on this proposal here.
“The Government of Nova Scotia has shown real leadership in standing up for the rights of solar net-metering customers, recognizing the important contribution of solar to achieving the province’s climate change goals,” said Nicholas Gall, CanREA’s Director of Distributed Energy Resources. “We and our partners at Solar Nova Scotia look forward to engaging with our members and policy-makers on a long-term solution to protect net-metering.”
The solar industry supports hundreds of jobs throughout Nova Scotia, primarily in rural communities, and last year contributed approximately $30 million in private-sector investment to the province’s economy while helping to reduce the province’s GHG emissions by nearly 250,000 tonnes.
The proposed “system access charge,” of $8 per kilowatt per month, would have cost the average residential customer with rooftop solar panels nearly $1,000 per year, and would have doubled the pay-back period for rooftop solar panels, from its current ten-to-12 years to more than 20 years.
“Nova Scotia’s solar industry is a great success story. It will play an important role in helping to achieve the provincial target of 80% renewable electricity by 2030,” said Jean Habel, Director for Quebec and Atlantic Canada. “By committing to legislative or regulatory change, the Government of Nova Scotia is taking an important step to support the long-term sustainability of the solar industry, one that will enable Nova Scotians to confidently invest in low-cost, non-emitting solar generation.”
Quotes
“The Government of Nova Scotia has shown real leadership in standing up for the rights of solar net-metering customers, recognizing the important contribution of solar to achieving the province’s climate change goals. We and our partners at Solar Nova Scotia look forward to engaging with our members and policy makers on a long-term solution to protect net metering.”
—Nicholas Gall, CanREA’s Director of Distributed Energy Resources.
“Nova Scotia’s solar industry is a great success story. It will play an important role in helping to achieve the provincial target of 80% renewable electricity by 2030. By committing to legislative or regulatory change, the Government of Nova Scotia is taking an important step to support the long-term sustainability of the solar industry, one that will enable Nova Scotians to confidently invest in low-cost, non-emitting solar generation.”
—Jean Habel, CanREA’s Director for Quebec and Atlantic Canada
About the Canadian Renewable Energy Association (CanREA)
The Canadian Renewable Energy Association (CanREA) is the voice for wind energy, solar energy and energy storage solutions that will power Canada’s energy future. We work to create the conditions for a modern energy system through stakeholder advocacy and public engagement. Our diverse members are uniquely positioned to deliver clean, low-cost, reliable, flexible and scalable solutions for Canada’s energy needs. Our aim is to ensure wind energy, solar energy and energy storage play a central role in transforming Canada’s energy mix. Follow us on Twitter and LinkedIn. Subscribe to our newsletter. Become a member. Learn more at renewablesassociation.ca.
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