In 2017 AREA started developing solar photovol- taic projects for 20 municipalities in Nova Scotia through the Solar for Community Buildings program. Collectively the 1.5MW of commer- cial solar delivers revenue to rural communities and allows these communities to participate in renewable energy and to have a positive impact on our climate. Our experience in developing these projects for rural communities, inspired us to develop a utility scale community solar project. We are currently constructing 9MW of Community Solar in the towns of Antigonish, Berwick and Mahone Bay which will deliver clean and cost-effective electricity to the three towns. By diversifying our renewable energy mix we ensure continued energy security and rate stabilization. These Community Solar Gardens will unlock opportunities for people to participate in solar, without needing a roof and at a financial level that they are comfortable with. Spotlight on Business: You are actively devel- oping further opportunities to decarbonize AREA’s supply of electricity to Antigonish, Mahone Bay, Berwick and Riverport. Are these services only offered to partnering com- munities or are they available to other munic- ipal electric utilities in Nova Scotia that have
yet to achieve 40% renewable energy? Aaron Long: We have a specialization with municipally owned utility-scale renewable energy project development and operations. That value proposition is maximized for municipal electric utilities in Nova Scotia because we have signif- icant experience and insight into the wholesale marketplace and the regulatory regime that guides the market. We also provide strategic and tactical guidance to the towns on various aspects of their electric utility operations. But that doesn’t mean we’re exclusively focused on that set of opportunities for our owner towns. There are other municipal electric utilities in Nova Scotia that can benefit via collaboration with AREA. “These Community Solar Gardens will unlock oppor- tunities for people to par- ticipate in solar, without needing a roof and at a financial level that they are comfortable with.”
Spotlight on Business: Can AREA offer your utility-scale, renewable energy project devel- opment and financing services to any munic - ipality in Nova Scotia, or just your partner- ing communities or municipalities and those owning an electric utility? Aaron Long: We are eager to strengthen our relationships with other municipalities in Nova Scotia. It is our understanding that the province is sincerely interested in ensuring municipalities have access to various opportunities to generate wealth by participating in clean energy projects. We have capacity and capability to lend to that pursuit, in particular, the upcoming Share Solar program where municipalities can sell the solar energy generated in a long-term contract. This would be a replication of our success with the nearly 9MW of Community Solar Gardens cur- rently developed and under construction. Spotlight on Business: We understand the services available for municipalities. Can AREA assist energy end users in these towns? If so, is there a size limitation and what kind of services do you offer to energy end users? Lenta Wright: Decarbonizing our towns requires wholesale renewable energy supplies in addition to transitioning end users to electricity from fossil fuels. Recognising this, AREA devel- oped the HOME (Heat Pump Options Made Easy) program and we’re currently reviewing the program’s performance, making the nec- essary adjustments and enhancement required to pursue end-user conversions. We’re lever- aging the brand of the Towns, and that takes special care and consideration, as the customer feedback indicates a significant level of trust that the town can navigate end-users’ decarboniza- tion journey. AREA also led the electric vehicle charger installation program in our owner towns, collaborating with Summerside (PEI), Saint John, Edmundston and Perth Andover (NB), securing nearly $500,000 from Natural Resources Canada to install over 50 charging points in our towns to alleviate range anxiety. Spotlight on Business: The Province of Nova Scotia is rolling out programs to encourage municipal ownership of clean energy assets
“We are eager to strength- en our relationships with other municipalities in Nova Scotia.”
like the Shared Solar Program. How do munic- ipalities and energy end users in Nova Scotia connect with you to chat about opportunities of mutual benefit? Aaron Long: Go to our website, send me an email. We’re interested in conversations about mutual collaboration with like-minded municipal- ities! Spotlight on Business: In closing, are there any items that we might have missed that you would like for us to share with our readers about the Alternative Resource Energy Authority (AREA)? Aaron Long: I should mention that the towns have realized over $15 million in profit and savings over the past 5 years or so. That’s quite an accumulation of wealth for towns with 12000 people in total. These funds are reinvested into quality-of-life initiatives by the councils, and this is entirely replicable by others. These financial and carbon benefits will grow as energy contin - ues to increase in price and attention turns to addressing climate change. If we have learned nothing else from this article it is that it takes everyone in a community to make the transition to a greener future, and at the heart of it lies teamwork. It is the success- ful collaboration between municipal partners, government, industry, and customers that has resulted in financial benefits and a clear path to net zero for the communities that are involved.
105 MAY/JUNE 2022 • SPOTLIGHT ON BUSINESS MAGAZINE
104 SPOTLIGHT ON BUSINESS MAGAZINE • MAY/JUNE 2022
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