Studying Opportunities in Renewable Energy

From the Chronicle Herald

Province seeks energy consultant

By BILL POWER Business Reporter
Fri. Jan 22 - 4:46 AM
The province is looking for a hired gun to explore business and job opportunities in the fledgling renewable energy sector.

The Ecology Action Centre in Halifax welcomed the move Wednesday.

"It is exciting to see the government seriously considering specific opportunities," said Cheryl Ratchford, the centre’s energy co-ordinator.

The Energy Department has put out a call for proposals from consultants interested in studying opportunities arising from the province’s move toward a greater reliance on renewable energy.

According to the documentation, the province believes "consultation and research" is required to determine what sort of opportunities may arise from the plan to increase renewable energy generation to 25 per cent by 2015.

"The drive to meet this objective will open up many new opportunities in the wind, biomass, solar and tidal energy fields," said department spokesman Matt Lumley.

"The consultant’s job will be to consider how businesses in our province can take full advantage of these emerging opportunities."

Documentation accompanying the call for proposals talks about the province developing a network of suppliers for a variety of renewable energy products and services.

The documents note that some business from the growing renewable energy sector may go to existing companies with links to the oil and gas supply and service industry.

"Consultation and research is required to determine what present and planned renewable energy opportunities exist for these fabricators and suppliers, and to determine the feasibility, costs and opportunities associated with participating in a renewable energy industry," the documents say.

The call for proposals closes Feb. 3 and the deadline for completing the study is March 31.

( bpower@herald.ca)