From Nova News Now
Progressive Conservative leader Karen Casey is will be in Digby today and tomorrow morning during a three-day visit to Digby, Annapolis and Kings counties.
The tour is part of Casey’s commitment to visit all 52 of Nova Scotia’s constituencies.
Casey plans to meet with local residents, as well as business and industry leaders during the tour.
Casey is due to visit the Digby ferry terminal at 2:45 p.m., and will meet with area municipal officials at 4 p.m.
A supper hour meeting in planned with members of the Digby and Area Board of Trade, beginning at 5:15 p.m.
“The feedback from the communities I toured in 2009 was thoughtful and insightful and I know that our party will benefit from it,” said Casey. “I’m looking forward to hearing from more Nova Scotians in 2010 as I continue across our province.”
A meeting with Bear River Board of Trade is set for Friday at 8:45 a.m, before Casey heads up the Valley for meetings in Greenwood and Bridgetown.
Thursday, January 14, 2010
NB Power vs Tidal Power?
From the N.B. Business Journal
TRENTON, N.S. - Scott Travers envisions a day when enough electricity can be drawn from the Bay of Fundy tides to power every household and industry in Nova Scotia.
Quentin Casey/For the Telegraph-Journal Scott Travers, president and COO of the Minas Basin Pulp and Power Co. Ltd., says he is worried the sale of NB Power could box future tidal electricity projects out of the Maritime power grid. Or perhaps all that power - pulled via turbines from the chilly bay - could be shipped south to help satisfy the needs of power-hungry New England.
Though eager and optimistic, Travers, the lead developer of Nova Scotia's tidal power test site, admits there are potential snags.
Chief among them: the possibility that Hydro-Québec's purchase of NB Power could box Nova Scotia energy producers out of the Maritime power grid.
"We have deep concern about that prospect," Travers said in an interview.
"We either have to have our own dedicated system into the New England market, or be sure we can get it through New Brunswick," he continued. "We're really concerned about that - getting boxed out of the transmission system. All Nova Scotians should be worried about that."
The Graham government has attempted to ease similar concerns expressed by regional premiers, claiming the rules for accessing the grid won't change with NB Power's sale.
At risk for Travers is the mountain of effort already expended in trying to prove the value of Bay of Fundy tidal power.
An engineer by training, Travers is president and chief operating officer of the Minas Basin Pulp and Power Co. Ltd., which is heading the tidal power testing on the Nova Scotia side of the bay.
Located in the Minas Passage, the project will mark the first Canadian deployment of commercial-scale tidal turbines.
The idea is to prove that tidal power can be successfully drawn from the bay, home of the world's most powerful tides.
Three groups are set to test different tidal technologies in the Minas Passage.
Nova Scotia Power and its partner, OpenHydro, an Irish tidal technology firm, recently lowered their massive unit in the water. Clean Current Power Systems Inc., a Vancouver-based company, plans to install its turbine this spring.
Travers said his company's turbine, produced by U.K.-based Marine Current Turbines, should be in the water within two years.
The unit resembles a submersible wind turbine, with propellers that spin when the tide rushes by. The U.K. firm planted a similar unit in Northern Ireland in 2008 - the world's first commercial-scale turbine.
But not only is Minas Basin Pulp and Power placing one of the three Bay of Fundy test turbines, it is also overseeing the overall testing effort.
From laying electrical cable to securing the environmental permitting, the fourth-generation, privately-owned milling company is leading the effort to harness the bay's powerful tides.
If successful, Travers says those efforts could be lucrative.
He estimates that 2,000 megawatts could be drawn from the bay within five or 10 years - enough to power all the homes and industry in Nova Scotia.
"It's 100 per cent green, renewable and predictable," Travers said at a recent federal energy announcement. "It's far better than fossil fuel-driven energy."
Despite those advantages, however, tidal power is not without its sceptics.
Those include Premier Shawn Graham, who says it is unproven, particularly in terms of the cost to ratepayers.
Travers doesn't dispute that claim, but says it's no reason to abandon the idea of tidal power.
"That's true. In the initial stages it won't be competitive with other power sources," he said.
"We'll learn how to bring the price down. Wind energy was dreadfully expensive at first, but we didn't stop because we knew it had a future," he continued, noting that future carbon credits and green energy incentives could bring the cost of tidal power down.
"What we're taking here are baby steps, but big baby steps. I'm looking forward to the next 10 years."
TRENTON, N.S. - Scott Travers envisions a day when enough electricity can be drawn from the Bay of Fundy tides to power every household and industry in Nova Scotia.
Quentin Casey/For the Telegraph-Journal Scott Travers, president and COO of the Minas Basin Pulp and Power Co. Ltd., says he is worried the sale of NB Power could box future tidal electricity projects out of the Maritime power grid. Or perhaps all that power - pulled via turbines from the chilly bay - could be shipped south to help satisfy the needs of power-hungry New England.
Though eager and optimistic, Travers, the lead developer of Nova Scotia's tidal power test site, admits there are potential snags.
Chief among them: the possibility that Hydro-Québec's purchase of NB Power could box Nova Scotia energy producers out of the Maritime power grid.
"We have deep concern about that prospect," Travers said in an interview.
"We either have to have our own dedicated system into the New England market, or be sure we can get it through New Brunswick," he continued. "We're really concerned about that - getting boxed out of the transmission system. All Nova Scotians should be worried about that."
The Graham government has attempted to ease similar concerns expressed by regional premiers, claiming the rules for accessing the grid won't change with NB Power's sale.
At risk for Travers is the mountain of effort already expended in trying to prove the value of Bay of Fundy tidal power.
An engineer by training, Travers is president and chief operating officer of the Minas Basin Pulp and Power Co. Ltd., which is heading the tidal power testing on the Nova Scotia side of the bay.
Located in the Minas Passage, the project will mark the first Canadian deployment of commercial-scale tidal turbines.
The idea is to prove that tidal power can be successfully drawn from the bay, home of the world's most powerful tides.
Three groups are set to test different tidal technologies in the Minas Passage.
Nova Scotia Power and its partner, OpenHydro, an Irish tidal technology firm, recently lowered their massive unit in the water. Clean Current Power Systems Inc., a Vancouver-based company, plans to install its turbine this spring.
Travers said his company's turbine, produced by U.K.-based Marine Current Turbines, should be in the water within two years.
The unit resembles a submersible wind turbine, with propellers that spin when the tide rushes by. The U.K. firm planted a similar unit in Northern Ireland in 2008 - the world's first commercial-scale turbine.
But not only is Minas Basin Pulp and Power placing one of the three Bay of Fundy test turbines, it is also overseeing the overall testing effort.
From laying electrical cable to securing the environmental permitting, the fourth-generation, privately-owned milling company is leading the effort to harness the bay's powerful tides.
If successful, Travers says those efforts could be lucrative.
He estimates that 2,000 megawatts could be drawn from the bay within five or 10 years - enough to power all the homes and industry in Nova Scotia.
"It's 100 per cent green, renewable and predictable," Travers said at a recent federal energy announcement. "It's far better than fossil fuel-driven energy."
Despite those advantages, however, tidal power is not without its sceptics.
Those include Premier Shawn Graham, who says it is unproven, particularly in terms of the cost to ratepayers.
Travers doesn't dispute that claim, but says it's no reason to abandon the idea of tidal power.
"That's true. In the initial stages it won't be competitive with other power sources," he said.
"We'll learn how to bring the price down. Wind energy was dreadfully expensive at first, but we didn't stop because we knew it had a future," he continued, noting that future carbon credits and green energy incentives could bring the cost of tidal power down.
"What we're taking here are baby steps, but big baby steps. I'm looking forward to the next 10 years."
Renewable Energy Down Under
Renewable energy news
Hot airline meals and solar hot water
Solar hot water technology will be used by Beijing Airport to heat the in-flight meals of up to 30,000 passengers.
Europe To Build $46bn Super Grid
Nine European countries have announced plans to create a huge inter-country power grid in order to utilise electricity from renewable energy production more efficiently.
Strict Battery Recycling Laws Begin in EU
Manufacturers of all kinds of batteries sold in the European Union are now required to pay for the collection, treatment and recycling of batteries, including rechargeable and deep cycle batteries used in renewable energy applications.
Laser Equipped Smart Wind Turbines
The National Laboratory for Sustainable Energy at the Technical University of Denmark has successfully completed testing on a "smart" wind turbine equipped with laser technology.
From Energy Matters
NSW Solar Bonus Scheme Defended
The New South Wales Solar Bonus Scheme, launched on January 1, is one of Australia's most generous feed in tariff schemes - but isn't without its critics.
Liberals Tout Uncapped Solar Panel Rebate?
A press release issued last week by the office of Peter Garrett states the Government noted that the Liberal Party has made what the Government says is a "new policy announcement" in regard to the insulation rebate and residential solar power systems.
Solar Powered Eyes For The Blind
Researchers at Stanford University have developed a retinal implant that will make artificial vision more natural - thanks in part to the use of solar cells.
Hot airline meals and solar hot water
Solar hot water technology will be used by Beijing Airport to heat the in-flight meals of up to 30,000 passengers.
Europe To Build $46bn Super Grid
Nine European countries have announced plans to create a huge inter-country power grid in order to utilise electricity from renewable energy production more efficiently.
Strict Battery Recycling Laws Begin in EU
Manufacturers of all kinds of batteries sold in the European Union are now required to pay for the collection, treatment and recycling of batteries, including rechargeable and deep cycle batteries used in renewable energy applications.
Laser Equipped Smart Wind Turbines
The National Laboratory for Sustainable Energy at the Technical University of Denmark has successfully completed testing on a "smart" wind turbine equipped with laser technology.
From Energy Matters
NSW Solar Bonus Scheme Defended
The New South Wales Solar Bonus Scheme, launched on January 1, is one of Australia's most generous feed in tariff schemes - but isn't without its critics.
Liberals Tout Uncapped Solar Panel Rebate?
A press release issued last week by the office of Peter Garrett states the Government noted that the Liberal Party has made what the Government says is a "new policy announcement" in regard to the insulation rebate and residential solar power systems.
Solar Powered Eyes For The Blind
Researchers at Stanford University have developed a retinal implant that will make artificial vision more natural - thanks in part to the use of solar cells.
Water Turbines Spinning Their Wheels
Turbine project delayed
Design work pushes launch of two prototypes back a year
By JUDY MYRDEN Business Reporter
Wed. Jan 13 - 4:46 AM
The redesign of underwater tidal turbines by Hantsport’s Minas Basin Pulp and Power Company Ltd. and Clean Current Power Systems Inc. of British Columbia has pushed back the launch of the two prototypes by another year, a Minas Basin official told The Chronicle Herald on Tuesday.
This is the second time the tidal power demonstration project has fallen behind schedule since the province announced two years ago that three prototypes would try to generate electricity from the Bay of Fundy tides.
"We are now targeting 2011 for deployment," said Minas Basin vice-president John Woods, who talked for both companies.
"We think we can build a better turbine if we can take a little bit longer, put more features in it and make it more robust for (the Bay of) Fundy."
Minas Basin and its technology partner Marine Current Turbines Ltd. of Bristol, England, had hoped to launch its SeaGen underwater turbine in 2010 and expected to spend between $15 million and $18 million to build and install the prototype.
Clean Current and its partner, international industrial giant Alstom, is also redesigning its proposed Mark III turbine, pushing its launch date to 2011 as well, Mr. Woods said. Clean Current was expected to spend about $10 million building and installing its prototype.
"We are taking our time to make sure that what we’ve got really . . . meets the Fundy standard," Mr. Woods said during a break in a meeting of tidal participants in Bedford.
The third group involved with the tidal power test project is Nova Scotia Power Inc. and its Irish partner, OpenHydro. They deposited their massive steel turbine on the Bay of Fundy’s seafloor on Nov. 12, 2009. The turbine is working but not connected to the power grid.
"Nova Scotia Power always knew theirs was spinning but can’t put it on the grid. We’re glad they are in the water because we are learning stuff," said Mr. Woods.
Last month Minas Basin and Marine Currents met in Copenhagen to discuss the redesign and set new construction dates, said Mr. Woods.
Minas Basin and Clean Current were not in a rush to deploy their technology because they wanted to wait until the costly submarine cables were installed and that was dependent upon federal government funding, he said.
On Monday the federal government announced it has earmarked between $10 million and $20 million under the Clean Energy Fund towards the multi-million dollar tidal energy project. The funding will help cover the cost of installing the $9-million underwater cables that carry the electricity to shore.
"Now that the federal government has declared its participation in this, we’re pretty certain we have money for cables," he said. "The project would have proceeded without federal government money but much slower."
The cables are expected to be ordered within the next two months and will take about 15 months to be delivered and installed, he said.
"The submarine cables will be ordered this year for installation in the spring of 2011. It doesn’t make much sense to have the turbine in the water with no cable," he said. "We will be in there a month after the cables are installed."
( jmyrden@herald.ca)
Design work pushes launch of two prototypes back a year
By JUDY MYRDEN Business Reporter
Wed. Jan 13 - 4:46 AM
The redesign of underwater tidal turbines by Hantsport’s Minas Basin Pulp and Power Company Ltd. and Clean Current Power Systems Inc. of British Columbia has pushed back the launch of the two prototypes by another year, a Minas Basin official told The Chronicle Herald on Tuesday.
This is the second time the tidal power demonstration project has fallen behind schedule since the province announced two years ago that three prototypes would try to generate electricity from the Bay of Fundy tides.
"We are now targeting 2011 for deployment," said Minas Basin vice-president John Woods, who talked for both companies.
"We think we can build a better turbine if we can take a little bit longer, put more features in it and make it more robust for (the Bay of) Fundy."
Minas Basin and its technology partner Marine Current Turbines Ltd. of Bristol, England, had hoped to launch its SeaGen underwater turbine in 2010 and expected to spend between $15 million and $18 million to build and install the prototype.
Clean Current and its partner, international industrial giant Alstom, is also redesigning its proposed Mark III turbine, pushing its launch date to 2011 as well, Mr. Woods said. Clean Current was expected to spend about $10 million building and installing its prototype.
"We are taking our time to make sure that what we’ve got really . . . meets the Fundy standard," Mr. Woods said during a break in a meeting of tidal participants in Bedford.
The third group involved with the tidal power test project is Nova Scotia Power Inc. and its Irish partner, OpenHydro. They deposited their massive steel turbine on the Bay of Fundy’s seafloor on Nov. 12, 2009. The turbine is working but not connected to the power grid.
"Nova Scotia Power always knew theirs was spinning but can’t put it on the grid. We’re glad they are in the water because we are learning stuff," said Mr. Woods.
Last month Minas Basin and Marine Currents met in Copenhagen to discuss the redesign and set new construction dates, said Mr. Woods.
Minas Basin and Clean Current were not in a rush to deploy their technology because they wanted to wait until the costly submarine cables were installed and that was dependent upon federal government funding, he said.
On Monday the federal government announced it has earmarked between $10 million and $20 million under the Clean Energy Fund towards the multi-million dollar tidal energy project. The funding will help cover the cost of installing the $9-million underwater cables that carry the electricity to shore.
"Now that the federal government has declared its participation in this, we’re pretty certain we have money for cables," he said. "The project would have proceeded without federal government money but much slower."
The cables are expected to be ordered within the next two months and will take about 15 months to be delivered and installed, he said.
"The submarine cables will be ordered this year for installation in the spring of 2011. It doesn’t make much sense to have the turbine in the water with no cable," he said. "We will be in there a month after the cables are installed."
( jmyrden@herald.ca)
Minister Asks for Your Input
Steele wants to hear from you in pre-budget tour
By JEFFREY SIMPSON Provincial Reporter
Thu. Jan 14 - 4:13 PM
Finance Minister Graham Steele will be travelling throughout the province this winter to discuss with Nova Scotians how to get the province's finances back on track.
Mr. Steele said Thursday that he'll hold at least 23 public meetings in 16 communities by the end of February in an attempt to come up with ideas about how raise revenue and curb spending, which is outpacing growth in the province.
“Part of the challenge here is getting people to understand the size of the financial problem and the difficulty the province is in,” Mr. Steele told a news conference in Halifax.
“We need Nova Scotians to understand the reality of the financial situation.”
Mr. Steele said it will be the largest public consultation process about finances the province has had and will cost about $63,000 as the government seeks long-term direction on where to cut costs and help the economy grow.
“We could go behind closed doors and make all the decisions that need to be made but that's not democratic government,” he said.
“Whatever solutions we come up with have to be things that the people of the province understand and accept and ideally have contributed to. And that's why we're doing it this way.”
Nova Scotia waded into red ink this fall and is now set to record a $525.2-million deficit for 2009-10.
The province will be facing deficits of $1.4 billion within the next few years if new financial measures aren't taken, Mr. Steele said.
“The most difficult question facing government is not how to spend more money,” Mr. Steele said. “The government is awash in good ideas about how to spend money in productive ways, but that's not the difficult question.
“The difficult question is where is the money going to come from to do it? And what I would say to anybody who comes to a meeting with that kind of thought is help me to know what your values and priorities are in terms of where does the money come from.”
The province is asking people who want to attend to register ahead of time so organizers get an idea of what kinds of numbers to expect, he said. Anybody can show up and say whatever they want, he said.
“This could be the biggest show in town in one place and have absolutely no interest somewhere else,” he said. “We just don't know.”
People will be seated around tables in an attempt to foster discussion among themselves after a 10-minute introductory presentation by Mr. Steele. He'll also be meeting with four chambers of commerce around the province.
Of the money being spent on the public meetings, about $35,000 will go to facilitator Becky Colwell who operates a firm called Fourth Wave Strategy Inc., $18,000 on advertising in newspapers and radio stations and $11,000 on setting up the audio systems for the sessions.
Liberal finance critic Diana Whalen said the public consultation may be a good idea and the costs are understandable.
“My concern is this whole exercise should not be used as a smokescreen for his budget decisions,” she said.
The schedule for the meetings hasn't been finalized. But the first week of meetings will be held on Jan. 22 in Sydney, Jan. 23 in Port Hawkesbury, Jan. 25 in Bridgewater and Jan. 28 in Stellarton. Meetings will also be held in Amherst, Dartmouth, Digby, Eastern Passage, Kentville, Liverpool, Lower Sackville, Tantallon, Truro, Wolfville and Yarmouth.
People can sign up for meetings at www.gov.ns.ca/finance.
(jsimpson@herald.ca)
By JEFFREY SIMPSON Provincial Reporter
Thu. Jan 14 - 4:13 PM
Finance Minister Graham Steele will be travelling throughout the province this winter to discuss with Nova Scotians how to get the province's finances back on track.
Mr. Steele said Thursday that he'll hold at least 23 public meetings in 16 communities by the end of February in an attempt to come up with ideas about how raise revenue and curb spending, which is outpacing growth in the province.
“Part of the challenge here is getting people to understand the size of the financial problem and the difficulty the province is in,” Mr. Steele told a news conference in Halifax.
“We need Nova Scotians to understand the reality of the financial situation.”
Mr. Steele said it will be the largest public consultation process about finances the province has had and will cost about $63,000 as the government seeks long-term direction on where to cut costs and help the economy grow.
“We could go behind closed doors and make all the decisions that need to be made but that's not democratic government,” he said.
“Whatever solutions we come up with have to be things that the people of the province understand and accept and ideally have contributed to. And that's why we're doing it this way.”
Nova Scotia waded into red ink this fall and is now set to record a $525.2-million deficit for 2009-10.
The province will be facing deficits of $1.4 billion within the next few years if new financial measures aren't taken, Mr. Steele said.
“The most difficult question facing government is not how to spend more money,” Mr. Steele said. “The government is awash in good ideas about how to spend money in productive ways, but that's not the difficult question.
“The difficult question is where is the money going to come from to do it? And what I would say to anybody who comes to a meeting with that kind of thought is help me to know what your values and priorities are in terms of where does the money come from.”
The province is asking people who want to attend to register ahead of time so organizers get an idea of what kinds of numbers to expect, he said. Anybody can show up and say whatever they want, he said.
“This could be the biggest show in town in one place and have absolutely no interest somewhere else,” he said. “We just don't know.”
People will be seated around tables in an attempt to foster discussion among themselves after a 10-minute introductory presentation by Mr. Steele. He'll also be meeting with four chambers of commerce around the province.
Of the money being spent on the public meetings, about $35,000 will go to facilitator Becky Colwell who operates a firm called Fourth Wave Strategy Inc., $18,000 on advertising in newspapers and radio stations and $11,000 on setting up the audio systems for the sessions.
Liberal finance critic Diana Whalen said the public consultation may be a good idea and the costs are understandable.
“My concern is this whole exercise should not be used as a smokescreen for his budget decisions,” she said.
The schedule for the meetings hasn't been finalized. But the first week of meetings will be held on Jan. 22 in Sydney, Jan. 23 in Port Hawkesbury, Jan. 25 in Bridgewater and Jan. 28 in Stellarton. Meetings will also be held in Amherst, Dartmouth, Digby, Eastern Passage, Kentville, Liverpool, Lower Sackville, Tantallon, Truro, Wolfville and Yarmouth.
People can sign up for meetings at www.gov.ns.ca/finance.
(jsimpson@herald.ca)
Protecting Our Precious Nature Areas
Land deal hailed as landmark
Conservancy purchases massive area from Irving
By SHERRI BORDEN COLLEY Staff Reporter
Thu. Jan 14 - 4:47 AM
Linda Stephenson, regional vice-president of the Nature Conservancy of Canada’s Atlantic division, announces the acquisition of 1,485 hectares of land in southwestern Nova Scotia. (Peter Parsons / Staff)
A landmark deal reached between the Nature Conservancy of Canada and J.D. Irving Ltd. was hailed Wednesday as the largest private land conservation initiative ever in Nova Scotia.
The land — about 20 times the size of Halifax’s Point Pleasant Park — was purchased by the conservancy from J.D. Irving for a price that is below the property’s appraised value, but neither side, as yet, is disclosing the purchase price.
"At the moment, I’m bound by a confidentiality agreement because there are still lands on the market, although we will certainly be making all the details public in the future," Linda Stephenson, regional vice-president of the Nature Conservancy’s Atlantic Region, told reporters.
"It will become public information because there are public funds in it but today I’m not able to do that."
The land is valued at over $4.5-million.
The acquisition of the 12 properties, almost 1,485 hectares, will preserve some of Nova Scotia’s most critical habitat in Shelburne and Yarmouth counties. The properties are situated in the areas of Quinns Meadow, Bennetts Lake, Lac de l’Ecole, Third Lake and Pearl Lake, about 30 kilometres northeast of Yarmouth.
They include large tracts of forests, lakes, wetlands and shoreline along the Tusket and Clyde river systems and provides habitat to the red maple, black spruce, American black bear and bobcat.
The land is situated in the Atlantic Coastal Plain, an area formed after glacial action submerged the land bridge linking Nova Scotia and Massachusetts. In the process populations of plants were isolated, resulting in what is now referred to as the Atlantic Coastal Plain Flora.
Twelve species of the flora are known to exist on or adjacent to the acquired properties. Many are rare to Nova Scotia and are either provincially or nationally threatened species, including the Plymouth gentian and long’s bulrush.
"This is a project of historic scale. It’s the largest such private sector land conservation action that’s ever been undertaken in the Maritime provinces," Bill Freedman, a trustee with the Nova Scotia Crown Share Land Legacy Trust, told a Halifax news conference.
The trust is an arms-length organization, established by the provincial government almost two years ago, that provides matching funds to help purchase protected lands.
"The . . . trust is highly selective in the projects that we support. They must meet high standards in terms of their biodiversity targets and their stewardship goals," Mr. Freedman said.
The federal government and the trust each contributed close to $2-million towards the purchase.
"We’ve had our eye on these lands for a long time . . . but when they came on the market, it was just a natural fit for us," Ms. Stephenson said.
When J.D. Irving first contemplated the sale of the lands, one of the first groups, in addition to the province, the company approached was the nature conservancy, said J.D. Irving spokeswoman Mary Keith.
"We’ve had the pleasure of working with the nature conservancy for many years both in the U.S. and in Canada. They do vital work and they make a significant contribution," Ms. Keith said.
Nova Scotia is committed to legally protecting 12 per cent — 6,630 square kilometres — of the province’s landmass by 2015, as set out by the Environmental Goals and Sustainable Prosperity Act.
Last May, the province put in a bid for 85 square kilometres of J.D. Irving-owned land in western Nova Scotia. The undisclosed amount offered was turned down by Irving.
( sborden@herald.ca)
Conservancy purchases massive area from Irving
By SHERRI BORDEN COLLEY Staff Reporter
Thu. Jan 14 - 4:47 AM
Linda Stephenson, regional vice-president of the Nature Conservancy of Canada’s Atlantic division, announces the acquisition of 1,485 hectares of land in southwestern Nova Scotia. (Peter Parsons / Staff)
A landmark deal reached between the Nature Conservancy of Canada and J.D. Irving Ltd. was hailed Wednesday as the largest private land conservation initiative ever in Nova Scotia.
The land — about 20 times the size of Halifax’s Point Pleasant Park — was purchased by the conservancy from J.D. Irving for a price that is below the property’s appraised value, but neither side, as yet, is disclosing the purchase price.
"At the moment, I’m bound by a confidentiality agreement because there are still lands on the market, although we will certainly be making all the details public in the future," Linda Stephenson, regional vice-president of the Nature Conservancy’s Atlantic Region, told reporters.
"It will become public information because there are public funds in it but today I’m not able to do that."
The land is valued at over $4.5-million.
The acquisition of the 12 properties, almost 1,485 hectares, will preserve some of Nova Scotia’s most critical habitat in Shelburne and Yarmouth counties. The properties are situated in the areas of Quinns Meadow, Bennetts Lake, Lac de l’Ecole, Third Lake and Pearl Lake, about 30 kilometres northeast of Yarmouth.
They include large tracts of forests, lakes, wetlands and shoreline along the Tusket and Clyde river systems and provides habitat to the red maple, black spruce, American black bear and bobcat.
The land is situated in the Atlantic Coastal Plain, an area formed after glacial action submerged the land bridge linking Nova Scotia and Massachusetts. In the process populations of plants were isolated, resulting in what is now referred to as the Atlantic Coastal Plain Flora.
Twelve species of the flora are known to exist on or adjacent to the acquired properties. Many are rare to Nova Scotia and are either provincially or nationally threatened species, including the Plymouth gentian and long’s bulrush.
"This is a project of historic scale. It’s the largest such private sector land conservation action that’s ever been undertaken in the Maritime provinces," Bill Freedman, a trustee with the Nova Scotia Crown Share Land Legacy Trust, told a Halifax news conference.
The trust is an arms-length organization, established by the provincial government almost two years ago, that provides matching funds to help purchase protected lands.
"The . . . trust is highly selective in the projects that we support. They must meet high standards in terms of their biodiversity targets and their stewardship goals," Mr. Freedman said.
The federal government and the trust each contributed close to $2-million towards the purchase.
"We’ve had our eye on these lands for a long time . . . but when they came on the market, it was just a natural fit for us," Ms. Stephenson said.
When J.D. Irving first contemplated the sale of the lands, one of the first groups, in addition to the province, the company approached was the nature conservancy, said J.D. Irving spokeswoman Mary Keith.
"We’ve had the pleasure of working with the nature conservancy for many years both in the U.S. and in Canada. They do vital work and they make a significant contribution," Ms. Keith said.
Nova Scotia is committed to legally protecting 12 per cent — 6,630 square kilometres — of the province’s landmass by 2015, as set out by the Environmental Goals and Sustainable Prosperity Act.
Last May, the province put in a bid for 85 square kilometres of J.D. Irving-owned land in western Nova Scotia. The undisclosed amount offered was turned down by Irving.
( sborden@herald.ca)
Member of Advisory Committee Wanted
THE MUNICIPA.LITY
OFTHE
DISTRICT OF DIGBY
Application for Citizen Appointment
The Digby Municipal Council is seeking three
citizen representatives to sit on the Planning
Advisory Committee. This conunittee provides
advice to Council respecting the preparation or
amendment of planning documents, and
planning matters in general.
Applications. are invited from interested
residents of the Municipality of the District of
Digby to serve on this committee. The terrn of
appointments will be for 2 years.
Applications can be picked up at the Municipal
Building at 12548 Hwy 217, Seabrook, NS.
Applications will be received Irom residents at
the Municipality at the District of Digby by tile
undersigned until 4 :00 pm January 20th, 2010.
Linda Fraser
Chiel Administrative Officer
Municipality of tile District of Digby
PO Box 429
Digby, Nova Scotia
BOV 1AO
OFTHE
DISTRICT OF DIGBY
Application for Citizen Appointment
The Digby Municipal Council is seeking three
citizen representatives to sit on the Planning
Advisory Committee. This conunittee provides
advice to Council respecting the preparation or
amendment of planning documents, and
planning matters in general.
Applications. are invited from interested
residents of the Municipality of the District of
Digby to serve on this committee. The terrn of
appointments will be for 2 years.
Applications can be picked up at the Municipal
Building at 12548 Hwy 217, Seabrook, NS.
Applications will be received Irom residents at
the Municipality at the District of Digby by tile
undersigned until 4 :00 pm January 20th, 2010.
Linda Fraser
Chiel Administrative Officer
Municipality of tile District of Digby
PO Box 429
Digby, Nova Scotia
BOV 1AO
Labels:
Digby Nova Scotia
Dan Mills on Rural Living
From: Dan Mills
To: infomorning@halifax.cbc.ca
Cc: dan mills
Sent: Wednesday, January 13, 2010 12:49 PM
Subject: Fw: country living
Dear CBC:Information Morning,
I may have misunderstood, but I think the question I heard suggested is that rural living is less expensive than urban living. If that is the case,I don't think any of you at CBC ever tried living in the boonies like I and so many others do by choice.
Depending upon how far we live from all the amenities which can be found not too far from city doors,the costs escalate.I live on Digby Neck, just ten miles from a small town.Many live 15 miles further down on the mainland, while others live on one of two islands that require ferry trips beyond the mainland....
The farther we have to go, the more expensive the trip. If folks come from the farthest Island,it costs them two ferry tolls. When we get to Digby, we have but 2 choices to shop for groceries. You know what that means? No real competition, so prices for the basics are optimum. That's not to say that the flyers do not advise us from time to time of one discount, but you have to consider if the cost to get there in transportation and time is worth the trip to save a few cents on a roll of bread.
Of course, you must know that we have to pay more for gasoline here in the country as compared to metro. In metro, if you drive, you will likely find what you need within a mile or so. Here, we may have to drive forty or more miles just for some basic need.
Take a look at Health Care. In the City there are hospitals and clinics within minutes from most homes. Here,a good part of the time our out-patient service is closed for lack of medical practitioners. Did you know that one of the most normal of things in creation, having a baby, cannot take place in Digby County?
A woman has to travel to Kentvllle in Kings or Yarmouth Regional in Yarmouth County to give birth! Picture the young woman a few years ago (a friend and neighbor) who had a series of false alarms over some weeks,a young husband who had to ply his trade each day from early morn to night, and 2 or 3 A.M. trips from Digby Neck to Kentville at many times to get there and find out "It's not the time!"
I have a neighbor now whose wife five weeks ago suffered a massive stroke.She's been in Yarmouth Hospital ever since. Their children come from the city in their hours off work,and the husband stays by her bedside all the time so she shall not be alone.That's 75 miles away. When family members come,he comes to his place to check their pets and so forth. Eating meals at the cafeteria cost a minimum of $70.00 per week.....And gas to and fro isn't cheap. (In the city, you can grab a bus to do the same.) Weive in a very real world here!Even when we are old!
We have people here who travel 3 days per week to Yarmouth for dialysis. That's a long and tiring and expensive day.(It seems a snub to us here because there is an excellent machine in our local hospital for carrying out that function with people who can do it,but bureaucracy has decided 'no'.)
The last time I went to a movie was to see "Titanic" at the nearest theatre in Yarmouth. That was nearly 15 years ago. It was a great trip there, but the return took place in a blinding snowstorm on highway 101- that 60 mile stretch! At nearly 74, it's not an appealing enterprise to repeat that again! (So I watch re-runs of "Murder She Wrote! on TV most nights!)
I needed a pair of winter boots a year or so ago. We have no shoe or clothing store in our little town. I suppose one could buy "cardboard" footwear at the nearby big box place, but if you want something good that will last a few years and give you comfort, you have to go to Yarmouth or Greenwood at best to find it.
Need I rant on? And my rant is no complaint, let me assure you! I love where I live, and that by choice.So do all the people who here support with their labor the medical and educational system, as all other government workers. They too choose to live here, and they pay the price of seemed inconvenience.
At days end though, they deserve and earn the pay of anyone who works in public service in metro, can't you see?....Or to put it another way, my humble "think" is that the premier and his crowd would like us all to move to metro- in the slums or otherwise according to our personal wealth (or lack thereof) - so the rape of land and sea and forest can drive all of us out of rural Nova Scotia in the name of "The Economy!"
Therein lies the rub! People are the economy of a community,a province, or a country! The work that people do in any part is worthy of equal pay.
Dan Mills
RR 4 , Digby NS
BOV 1AO
902-245-5171
To: infomorning@halifax.cbc.ca
Cc: dan mills
Sent: Wednesday, January 13, 2010 12:49 PM
Subject: Fw: country living
Dear CBC:Information Morning,
I may have misunderstood, but I think the question I heard suggested is that rural living is less expensive than urban living. If that is the case,I don't think any of you at CBC ever tried living in the boonies like I and so many others do by choice.
Depending upon how far we live from all the amenities which can be found not too far from city doors,the costs escalate.I live on Digby Neck, just ten miles from a small town.Many live 15 miles further down on the mainland, while others live on one of two islands that require ferry trips beyond the mainland....
The farther we have to go, the more expensive the trip. If folks come from the farthest Island,it costs them two ferry tolls. When we get to Digby, we have but 2 choices to shop for groceries. You know what that means? No real competition, so prices for the basics are optimum. That's not to say that the flyers do not advise us from time to time of one discount, but you have to consider if the cost to get there in transportation and time is worth the trip to save a few cents on a roll of bread.
Of course, you must know that we have to pay more for gasoline here in the country as compared to metro. In metro, if you drive, you will likely find what you need within a mile or so. Here, we may have to drive forty or more miles just for some basic need.
Take a look at Health Care. In the City there are hospitals and clinics within minutes from most homes. Here,a good part of the time our out-patient service is closed for lack of medical practitioners. Did you know that one of the most normal of things in creation, having a baby, cannot take place in Digby County?
A woman has to travel to Kentvllle in Kings or Yarmouth Regional in Yarmouth County to give birth! Picture the young woman a few years ago (a friend and neighbor) who had a series of false alarms over some weeks,a young husband who had to ply his trade each day from early morn to night, and 2 or 3 A.M. trips from Digby Neck to Kentville at many times to get there and find out "It's not the time!"
I have a neighbor now whose wife five weeks ago suffered a massive stroke.She's been in Yarmouth Hospital ever since. Their children come from the city in their hours off work,and the husband stays by her bedside all the time so she shall not be alone.That's 75 miles away. When family members come,he comes to his place to check their pets and so forth. Eating meals at the cafeteria cost a minimum of $70.00 per week.....And gas to and fro isn't cheap. (In the city, you can grab a bus to do the same.) Weive in a very real world here!Even when we are old!
We have people here who travel 3 days per week to Yarmouth for dialysis. That's a long and tiring and expensive day.(It seems a snub to us here because there is an excellent machine in our local hospital for carrying out that function with people who can do it,but bureaucracy has decided 'no'.)
The last time I went to a movie was to see "Titanic" at the nearest theatre in Yarmouth. That was nearly 15 years ago. It was a great trip there, but the return took place in a blinding snowstorm on highway 101- that 60 mile stretch! At nearly 74, it's not an appealing enterprise to repeat that again! (So I watch re-runs of "Murder She Wrote! on TV most nights!)
I needed a pair of winter boots a year or so ago. We have no shoe or clothing store in our little town. I suppose one could buy "cardboard" footwear at the nearby big box place, but if you want something good that will last a few years and give you comfort, you have to go to Yarmouth or Greenwood at best to find it.
Need I rant on? And my rant is no complaint, let me assure you! I love where I live, and that by choice.So do all the people who here support with their labor the medical and educational system, as all other government workers. They too choose to live here, and they pay the price of seemed inconvenience.
At days end though, they deserve and earn the pay of anyone who works in public service in metro, can't you see?....Or to put it another way, my humble "think" is that the premier and his crowd would like us all to move to metro- in the slums or otherwise according to our personal wealth (or lack thereof) - so the rape of land and sea and forest can drive all of us out of rural Nova Scotia in the name of "The Economy!"
Therein lies the rub! People are the economy of a community,a province, or a country! The work that people do in any part is worthy of equal pay.
Dan Mills
RR 4 , Digby NS
BOV 1AO
902-245-5171
Labels:
Digby Digby Neck rural living
Transportation in Nova Scotia
Blogger's Note: Kathleen's Shuttle and Tours has shuttle service through the Annapolis Valley to the airport and Halifax and to Digby and Yarmouth. Phone 902-834-2024 imgoing@auracom.com and www.freewebs.com/digbytoursandshuttle
Rural bus routes in jeopardy
Acadian wants to ditch run from Kentville to Digby, reduce service to Sydney
By GORDON DELANEY Valley Bureau
Wed. Jan 13 - 4:46 AM
Passengers board an Acadian Lines bus in Kentville on Tuesday. The bus company has applied to abandon its Kentville-to-Digby route. (GORDON DELANEY / Valley Bureau)
Transportation options in southwestern Nova Scotia are disappearing as Acadian Lines seeks to cut its rural bus routes.
The Montreal-based bus company, Groupe Orleans Express, has applied to the Nova Scotia Utility and Review Board to cancel its Kentville-to-Digby bus run, citing major financial losses.
The company said it lost $1.6 million on its Maritime routes in 2009 and plans to shift its focus to urban areas in Nova Scotia and New Brunswick.
It has applied to increase its service between Halifax, Moncton, Fredericton and Saint John, while reducing bus service in rural areas.
It has asked the board to allow it to reduce daily runs between Halifax and Sydney from three to two and discontinue a third run between Halifax and Kentville. It also wants to eliminate daily service between Kentville and Digby.
Just last month, the province announced it would no longer fund the Cat, the Yarmouth-to-Maine ferry, severing a major provincial transportation link. There are also doubts about the future of the Digby-to-Saint John ferry.
Local businesses are concerned about the cuts to transportation services in the region.
"Any cuts in economical modes of transportation for people and goods hurts economic activity," Gary Morse, president of the Eastern Kings Chamber of Commerce, said Tuesday.
Groupe Orleans said the Kings Transit bus service is already serving the area and it is too small a market for two competing bus companies.
Kings Transit, a small, municipally owned and funded service, connects small communities between Weymouth and Windsor.
It doesn’t carry freight and is not equipped for long-distance travel, said Kings Transit chairman Mark Pearl.
"The only impact the Acadian Lines cut will have is in the expectations of the travelling public," Mr. Pearl said Tuesday.
"But we don’t operate equipment designed for long hauls. We don’t have washroom facilities, for example."
He said he is disappointed to hear Acadian Lines has applied to abandon the route. They share a Kentville bus station.
Mr. Pearl said Kings Transit gets a lot of requests for expansion of service, but without provincial funding, it could not replace the Acadian Lines service.
He said Kings Transit would be more interested in setting up a commuter service from Wolfville to Halifax. One of the holdups preventing the exploration of that possibility or replacing Acadian Lines is a lack of funding.
Passengers boarding the bus in Kentville on Tuesday were surprised to hear of the possible cancellation of the service.
"Really?" Marilyn MacKillop asked as she waited for the Acadian Lines bus to arrive at the depot. "I think this service is important. There are a lot of people who don’t have their own vehicles."
Ms. MacKillop said the service is especially important in the winter, when even people who own a car don’t want to drive.
"I don’t feel like driving in the wintertime. I’d rather get on the bus. That way, I have no worries."
Transport 2000 Atlantic, a public transportation advocacy group, is concerned about the reduction in bus service.
"All our regional rail service disappeared 19 years ago and now the bus service seems threatened too," said president John Pearce.
Mr. Pearce said there should be government support for buses, in the same way other modes of public transportation are funded.
"We spend a great deal of money on roads and (issues of) climate change and the fuel supply. I think we have to prepare to see quite a restriction on private automobile traffic."
Groupe Orleans spokeswoman Manon Piche has said Acadian Lines is a private company and its role is to make money.
"That is why we are trying to reinvent ourselves and propose a new way of offering service where we believe it will help us grow and be more successful."
( gdelaney@herald.ca)
Blogger's Note: Kathleen's Shuttle and Tours has shuttle service through the Annapolis Valley to the airport and Halifax and to Digby and Yarmouth. Phone 902-834-2024 imgoing@auracom.com and www.freewebs.com/digbytoursandshuttle
Rural bus routes in jeopardy
Acadian wants to ditch run from Kentville to Digby, reduce service to Sydney
By GORDON DELANEY Valley Bureau
Wed. Jan 13 - 4:46 AM
Passengers board an Acadian Lines bus in Kentville on Tuesday. The bus company has applied to abandon its Kentville-to-Digby route. (GORDON DELANEY / Valley Bureau)
Transportation options in southwestern Nova Scotia are disappearing as Acadian Lines seeks to cut its rural bus routes.
The Montreal-based bus company, Groupe Orleans Express, has applied to the Nova Scotia Utility and Review Board to cancel its Kentville-to-Digby bus run, citing major financial losses.
The company said it lost $1.6 million on its Maritime routes in 2009 and plans to shift its focus to urban areas in Nova Scotia and New Brunswick.
It has applied to increase its service between Halifax, Moncton, Fredericton and Saint John, while reducing bus service in rural areas.
It has asked the board to allow it to reduce daily runs between Halifax and Sydney from three to two and discontinue a third run between Halifax and Kentville. It also wants to eliminate daily service between Kentville and Digby.
Just last month, the province announced it would no longer fund the Cat, the Yarmouth-to-Maine ferry, severing a major provincial transportation link. There are also doubts about the future of the Digby-to-Saint John ferry.
Local businesses are concerned about the cuts to transportation services in the region.
"Any cuts in economical modes of transportation for people and goods hurts economic activity," Gary Morse, president of the Eastern Kings Chamber of Commerce, said Tuesday.
Groupe Orleans said the Kings Transit bus service is already serving the area and it is too small a market for two competing bus companies.
Kings Transit, a small, municipally owned and funded service, connects small communities between Weymouth and Windsor.
It doesn’t carry freight and is not equipped for long-distance travel, said Kings Transit chairman Mark Pearl.
"The only impact the Acadian Lines cut will have is in the expectations of the travelling public," Mr. Pearl said Tuesday.
"But we don’t operate equipment designed for long hauls. We don’t have washroom facilities, for example."
He said he is disappointed to hear Acadian Lines has applied to abandon the route. They share a Kentville bus station.
Mr. Pearl said Kings Transit gets a lot of requests for expansion of service, but without provincial funding, it could not replace the Acadian Lines service.
He said Kings Transit would be more interested in setting up a commuter service from Wolfville to Halifax. One of the holdups preventing the exploration of that possibility or replacing Acadian Lines is a lack of funding.
Passengers boarding the bus in Kentville on Tuesday were surprised to hear of the possible cancellation of the service.
"Really?" Marilyn MacKillop asked as she waited for the Acadian Lines bus to arrive at the depot. "I think this service is important. There are a lot of people who don’t have their own vehicles."
Ms. MacKillop said the service is especially important in the winter, when even people who own a car don’t want to drive.
"I don’t feel like driving in the wintertime. I’d rather get on the bus. That way, I have no worries."
Transport 2000 Atlantic, a public transportation advocacy group, is concerned about the reduction in bus service.
"All our regional rail service disappeared 19 years ago and now the bus service seems threatened too," said president John Pearce.
Mr. Pearce said there should be government support for buses, in the same way other modes of public transportation are funded.
"We spend a great deal of money on roads and (issues of) climate change and the fuel supply. I think we have to prepare to see quite a restriction on private automobile traffic."
Groupe Orleans spokeswoman Manon Piche has said Acadian Lines is a private company and its role is to make money.
"That is why we are trying to reinvent ourselves and propose a new way of offering service where we believe it will help us grow and be more successful."
( gdelaney@herald.ca)
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