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Richmond County Community Solar Public Notice
We are writing to make you aware of a proposed Community Solar Project, to be located at the following addresses that will be proposed to the Nova Scotia Community Solar Program. As part of the community engagement, we are sharing the outline of the Project with you:
Project Name: NS – 5305 Hwy 4, Location: 5305 Hwy 4, Richmond County, NS B0E 1J0. GPS: 45.641, -61.142
Please see site plan below for the exact location in Richmond County.
Community Solar Program Background
Nova Scotia is working toward 80% renewable energy by 2030 and becoming net-zero by 2035. Last year, the province announced its Clean Power Plan—a roadmap to reach climate goals that Nova Scotia Power are aligned with and supportive of. Community Solar Program, as part of the roadmap, was announced on March 1, 2024, by the Department of Natural Resources and Renewables. Nova Scotia’s Community Solar Program procurement will add up to 100 megawatts (MW) of clean, renewable solar generation to the grid, helping to reduce our dependence on fossil fuels and mitigate climate change.
Benefits of Community Solar Gardens
Community solar gardens provide many benefits, including:
- Helping communities to get involved in developing renewable energy and making renewable energy more accessible (even for people who wouldn’t be able to install solar panels, like renters, condos and people with shaded roofs).
- Helping generate more clean energy (a 10-megawatt solar garden can power up to 1,310 homes per year), helping Nova Scotia reach its target of 80% renewable energy by 2030.
- Reducing electricity costs. Subscribers get a $0.02/kWh credit on their electricity bill for the solar electricity subscribed.
- Localizing job opportunities and economic growth: long-term contracts can be awarded to local businesses, electricians, technicians for project development and operations & maintenance.
For more info: https://energy.novascotia.ca/renewables/community-solar-program/
Proponent Information
4650576 Nova Scotia Limited is a 100% owned Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) by AI Renewable flow-through fund. AI Renewable 2023 LP is a Canadian flow-through limited partnership, made to invest in clean infrastructure and/or renewable energy projects that help to reduce energy costs and GHG emissions in Canada while producing tax benefits and long-term reasonable returns for investors.
Developers
AI Renewable has contracted SolarBank Corp and TriMac Engineering to work on the development.
SolarBank (www.solarbankcorp.com) is an established and trusted Canadian developer, engineer, and asset operator in renewable and clean energy projects. We specialize in behind-the-meter (BTM) solar power plants, grid-connected community solar gardens, battery energy storage systems (BESS) and EV Chargers. Since 2013, SolarBank has enabled the proliferation of renewable and clean energy contributing to Net Zero carbon emission goals through its development, engineering, and asset management services in Canada and the United States.
TriMac Engineering (www.trimaceng.ca) is a locally owned engineering firm with offices located in Sydney and Halifax, Nova Scotia. TriMac are Mechanical and Electrical Engineering Consultants, incorporated in 2015 with roots dating back to 1991. The firm has expertise in the design and implementation of piping, mechanical, electrical and control systems with extensive experience in the power generation and construction industries.
Project Information
Site Plan Highway 4
Project Name: NS – 5305 Hwy 4
Location: 5305 Hwy 4, Richmond County, NS B0E 1J0
GPS: 45.641, -61.142
Project Size: 3.4 Megawatt AC
Zoning: Rural General
The proposed Projects are currently in the early stages of developing proposals to the Nova Scotia Community Solar Program. If our proposal is successful and we are selected for a contract, we will begin the detailed project developments, including permitting, interconnection, detailed engineering, procurement, and construction.
The projects will be connected to the local distribution system, to an existing Nova Scotia Power Line.
Public Meeting
If you would like to know more about these Projects and the Province’s Community Solar Program, you are highly welcomed to attend public meetings per the schedules listed below. The meetings are intended to ensure that community members have the chance to be informed about the project and ask any questions they may have. The meetings will cover similar information in more detail, feel free to attend whichever fits best with your schedule.
Public Meeting #1: In-person meeting
Time: Wednesday, May 21, 2025, 6:00 PM – 7:30 PM
Location: 26 Holgers Lane/Kempt Road, Cleveland, NS B0E 1J0 (Friends United Centre)
Public Meeting #2: On-line meeting
Time: Wednesday, May 28, 2025, 6:00 PM – 7:30 PM
Location: Microsoft Teams Meeting
If you plan to attend the online meeting, please email mila.simon@solarbankcorp.com for the meeting link.
Questions and Contacts
Please feel free to reach out to me below if you have any questions regarding the Program or Project.
Sincerely,
Mila Simon
Sr. Project Coordinator
