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Canada
Day, 2004, the first 50 kW wind turbine installed in Nova
Scotia was up and running for the Eskasoni first nations
community in Cape Breton.
Perched atop a hill, the 50 kW AOC 15/50 is powering the
band office and is a highly visible indicator of
Eskasoni’s commitment to wind power as a means of
increasing their energy independence.
Power from the wind turbine will be metered using
Nova Scotia Power’s new policy of ‘net metering’.
This means that their electricity meter will
effectively run ‘both ways’ measuring both power drawn
from the grid and power generated by the wind turbine.
In doing so, Eskasoni’s wind power will be valued
at full retail rates.
“Net metering makes a big difference to the
economics of such projects and allows a wind turbine to
pay for itself in a shorter period of time” says David
Lombardi, President of Atlantic Orient Canada Inc.
During the installation and commissioning process,
engineers at Atlantic Orient Canada Inc. worked closely
with Eskasoni skilled trades.
“The idea was to help local electricians, iron
workers, labourers etc learn how to install these wind
turbines themselves,” says Paul Pynn, an engineer with
Atlantic Orient Canada Inc,
“this will allow them to offer their skills to
other communities around the country who are interested in
similar wind power projects.”
Eskasoni
has been investigating wind power potential in their
community for several years and has collected wind speed
data with the intention of installing larger turbines.
About to erect 50 kW wind turbine, Eskasoni, Cape Breton,
Nova Scotia |
