Spotlight on Business: It seems like the secret behind the success of these Alternative Resource Energy Authority project is more the collaboration of your stakeholders, than just owning clean energy assets or innovation, can you explain this further? Aaron Long: I’ve worked at private firms where staff conflict stalls projects, even some - times brings them to failure. The staff at AREA, working closely with our Town councils and Town staff, have achieved a means to sort through the rough patches. We don’t always agree, but there’s enough common ground with clean energy projects that we have continually found a way to reach a compromise. That’s a mindset, a skillset and an attitude that is contagious. Industry sees this, so do other levels of govern- ment. As do the community residents in Ellers- house. All of these stakeholders are made up of regular Nova Scotians from all walks of life. And via AREA, they have access to the benefits of the clean energy transition. So, it demonstrates the potential in front of us as Nova Scotians to take control of our energy destiny instead of relying on investor-owned utilities to tell us what’s best for our way of life and our economy.
Spotlight on Business: The success of the Eller- shouse Wind Farm project and the strong collaboration between AREA and partner- ing towns has led to the development and construction of utility-scale community solar garden projects. Can you tell us about the project and the benefits that it offers partner - ing towns? Lenta Wright: The Environmental Goals and Climate Change Reduction Act require the elec- tricity sector to reduce its greenhouse gas emis- sions by 55% by 2030 and to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050. The electric utilities in Nova Scotia therefore need to clean up and diversify their electric supply in order to meet the targets. “We don’t always agree, but there’s enough common ground with clean energy projects that we have con- tinually found a way to reach a compromise.”
103 MAY/JUNE 2022 • SPOTLIGHT ON BUSINESS MAGAZINE
102 SPOTLIGHT ON BUSINESS MAGAZINE • MAY/JUNE 2022
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