RFP Update: Nova Scotia Attracts Strong Interest with More Opportunities Ahead

John Dalton, Nova Scotia Renewable Electricity Administrator & President, Power Advisory LLC provides an update on the RFP for large-scale wind in Nova Scotia and future opportunities for wind in the region. Dalton is presenting at the upcoming Nova Scotia Feed-in Tariff Forum 2012.

Canadian Clean: What is the latest update on the bids you received for the RFP?

John Dalton: We received 19 proposals from virtually all of the parties that had submitted Notices of Intent to Bid. Proponents include most of the major wind project developers that are active in Canada. The number of proposals was in line with our expectations given the significant interest expressed in the RFP as evidenced by the large number of Notices of Intent to Bid submitted.

CC: Why do you think there is such a strong level of interest in the region?

JD: The strong level of interest reflects the favourable opportunity for wind project development in Nova Scotia. In its 2010 Renewable Electricity Plan, the Nova Scotia Government committed the province to having 25% of all electricity requirements produced by renewable energy projects and proposed using an independent Renewable Electricity Administrator (REA) to administer a request for proposals (RFP) process to select the projects that would be awarded contracts. This signaled to existing Nova Scotia renewable project developers that they should continue to mature their projects and to new entrants to Nova Scotia that there would be a forthcoming opportunity that could reward their efforts to begin assessing project opportunities.

I also believe that the strong market interest is testament to Power Advisory’s approach as the REA to working closely with stakeholders to design an RFP that identified the projects that offered best value to Nova Scotia customers and a power purchase agreement (PPA) that efficiently allocated risks to customers and electricity suppliers.

CC: When do you anticipate announcing the successful bids?

JD: We expect to announce those parties that are to be awarded PPAs in early August.

CC: There is clearly strong interest in developing wind in the region – do you think there will be additional opportunities for large-scale wind here?

JD: Yes, there should continue to be opportunities to develop cost-effective wind projects in Atlantic Canada, both to serve local requirements for renewable energy and export to other markets given the favourable wind regimes in the region.