SHERBROOKE – The Municipality of the District of St. Mary’s stands to receive nearly $4 million annually in municipal tax revenues and community benefit funding from EverWind’s proposed Wind Farm 3 development, according to company officials.
The figures were presented to the municipality’s committee of the whole on May 6 by EverWind director of engagement Mark Stewart and senior development manager Tyler de Gier during an overview of the company’s proposed 856-megawatt wind project spanning parts of St. Mary’s and the Municipality of the District of Guysborough (MODG).
The proposed development – part of EverWind’s broader Phase 2 expansion in eastern Nova Scotia – could include up to 107 turbines and associated transmission infrastructure linked to the company’s proposed hydrogen and green fuels operations in areas near Country Harbour, Port Bickerton, Port Hilford, Indian Harbour Lake and Melrose.
According to the figures, the project could generate approximately $7.4 million annually in tax revenue for MODG and St. Mary’s. With roughly 40 per cent of the project footprint currently located within St. Mary’s boundaries, the amounts to roughly $3 million in new tax revenues there, with an expected lifespan of approximately 35 years.
Stewart also noted the development would generate municipal revenue without many of the servicing costs commonly associated with residential or commercial growth.
“There’s no municipal water or garbage or road clearing,” he said. “Some of those are the things where there’s costs associated with it.”
Under a proposed community benefits structure, EverWind would contribute $1,000 annually per megawatt into a community benefits program, he said. Based on the project’s current size, that would represent approximately $856,000 annually for proximity payments, bursaries and community projects.
Stewart told council that environmental assessment work remains ongoing, including studies involving wildlife, groundwater, archaeology, noise and shadow flicker. de Gier added that the company is attempting to avoid environmentally sensitive areas, including parts of the St. Mary’s River watershed.
Councillors pressed EverWind on whether the project would translate into long-term opportunities for local residents, particularly younger people.
“One of the biggest things that we try to achieve in marketing, from a rural community perspective, [is] keeping your young here, and it’s so vitally important,” said Coun. Dana O’Connell, who asked whether EverWind was recruiting at local high schools.
Stewart said the company has presented to students at St. Mary’s Education Centre/Academy and hosted site tours involving more than 600 students at EverWind’s Point Tupper facility over the past two years.
He added EverWind has also committed to renewable-energy bursaries for students interested in fields such as environmental studies, engineering and wind turbine technology. “We’re very interested in keeping young people – but just people in general – in the areas where we’re developing projects.”
Warden James Fuller said the municipality is also looking closely at the project’s potential fiscal impact as rural communities face ongoing financial pressures.
“We are looking to make sure that all our community activities and programs and our community halls, our fire departments, you name it, are able to continue at a service level that benefits everyone,” Fuller said.
Referring to negotiations over community benefits agreements, Fuller added: “You’ll be hearing from our CAO with a pen in hand.”
EverWind estimates the development could create between 350 and 450 construction jobs, along with 30 to 40 long-term operations and maintenance positions once operational.
Construction is projected to begin around 2030, pending environmental approvals and permitting.
