GOLDBORO — After a seven-week provincial environmental assessment – and with 34 terms and conditions to fulfill – Nova Sustainable Fuels (NSF) has received approval for the first phase of its proposed renewable energy park in Goldboro in the Municipality of the District of Guysborough.
In his decision letter dated Dec. 18, Environment and Climate Change Minister Timothy Halman said that, after reviewing information provided by the company and “all the comments received through the environmental assessment process,” he was satisfied potential adverse effects “can be adequately mitigated.”
In a news release, Andrew Parsons, project director for Nova Sustainable Fuels, lauded the decision, noting that the approval “moves us one step closer to delivering the clean-energy solutions needed to reduce emissions from the transportation sector, which accounts for approximately one quarter of all greenhouse gas emissions. We’re excited about the progress and the potential impact this project can have for Nova Scotia and beyond.”
According to company documents filed with the Department of Environment and Climate Change, phase 1 of the project – initially aimed at producing sustainable aviation fuel and renewable methanol for export markets, utilizing local biomass and wind energy – will involve building and operating a renewable energy park at an existing industrial site in Goldboro. The proposal includes a fuel production facility, freshwater pipelines and supporting infrastructure on approximately 313 hectares of Crown and private land.
The project summary states the plant would operate 24 hours a day, seven days a week, with approximately 60 to 80 full-time employees. Peak operations would require about 60 truckloads of biomass per day and an estimated 586 cubic metres per hour of freshwater supplied from Meadow Lake and Ocean Lake via freshwater pipelines.
The minister’s approval includes a six-page terms and conditions document outlining requirements the company must meet, such as commencing work within two years unless a written extension is granted, providing the department with at least 30 days’ written notice before work begins and submitting an annual concordance table by Jan. 31 each year detailing compliance with the environmental assessment terms and conditions until released in writing by the department.
Wetland alteration is not authorized under the approval and, where applicable, the company must apply for and receive separate approvals for such work. Prior to commencement, it must provide mapping data identifying wetlands and species recorded during field work and submit a wildlife management plan describing how it intends to meet applicable federal and provincial legislation, including the Migratory Birds Convention Act and the Species at Risk Act.
The conditions require work to stop and provincial authorities to be notified if archaeological or paleontological resources are discovered, with additional direction required if a find is of certain or possible Mi’kmaq origin. Subsurface testing is also required in areas of elevated archaeological potential that cannot be avoided. The approval further directs the company to develop and implement a Mi’kmaq communication plan and continue maintaining a community liaison committee.
In his letter, Halman identified several environmental and site-related issues during the assessment review, including the presence of old-growth forest, species at risk and/or habitat and invasive species transport, saying it is “important” the company work with the Department of Natural Resources to address and mitigate these components through its wildlife management plan.
He also pointed to risks associated with historical mining waste and hazards at the site, to be managed through the company’s proposed risk management plan and subsequent approvals.
In an interview with The Journal last week, Parsons said, “We’ve done a significant amount of work and we have very experienced, both internal people as well as external contractors, who did a very thorough job. So, nothing here is unexpected, and we’re quite happy to proceed as directed by the province.”
A 159-page public comments compendium features submissions from individuals filed between Oct. 29 – when the company registered its assessment with the province – and Dec. 8, 2025. Several organizations also provided input, including: Kwilmu’kw Maw-Klusuaqn, the New Harbour River Restoration Association, Everwind Fuels, the Municipality of the District of Guysborough, the Native Council of Nova Scotia/Maritime Aboriginal Aquatic Resources Secretariat and the Guysborough County Inshore Fishermen’s Association.
Submissions focused primarily on environmental and procedural concerns and centred on potential effects on water resources, wetlands, fisheries and legacy contamination at the site, along with calls for additional study, monitoring and mitigation as the project advances through further regulatory approvals.
Separate technical reviews by government units noted the project site’s prior association with a proposed liquefied natural gas development and identify contaminants, including mercury, arsenic and petroleum hydrocarbons, in soil, water, sediment and groundwater, as well as dust-management considerations tied to construction and operations.
“I think they’re fair comments on the surface,” Parsons said. “We should be concerned about things that potentially could negatively affect water tables and water supply and whatnot, and we’re equally concerned about that.”
Future phases of the energy park would include wind and solar generation and related transmission infrastructure in Guysborough County, for which NSF said it intends to submit a second environmental assessment in 2027. Meanwhile, the construction phase is expected to commence in 2028, with the project operational by 2031.
“We’re committed to doing this right and will continue to engage with local communities as the project progresses,” Parsons said. “Community feedback and local knowledge are essential, and we want to ensure this project delivers real benefits while respecting the people and environment of the area.”
