Nova Scotia Power is asking for a rate increase for households of 11.6% over three years instead of the 10% it requested in January. The company cites rising fuel costs, higher-than-expected prices for power purchased from other utilities, and the costs of failing to meet greenhouse gas targets. “The forecast fuel and purchased power costs […]
Premier pitches ‘made-in-Nova Scotia plan’ as alternative to federal carbon tax
Premier Tim Houston unveiled Nova Scotia’s alternative to a federal carbon tax this morning. In January, Ottawa will beginning raising the price of carbon by $15 a tonne each year from the current $50 a tonne until the price reaches $170 a tonne by 2030. The province has argued that move would be “punitive” in […]
Despite receiving Muskrat Falls power, Nova Scotia is still burning biomass for electricity
The Ecology Action Centre is urging the provincial government to rescind or revoke a directive to Nova Scotia Power to maximize the burning of biomass to generate electricity. That instruction was first given by the McNeil government in May 2020 after ongoing delays in receiving renewable energy from Labrador. “In January and again in March,...
Halifax’s big climate change action plan is ready, but the COVID-19 budget crunch means it’s already ‘jeopardized’
Halifax’s new climate change action plan aims for carbon neutral city operations in 10 years and carbon neutrality across the municipality by 2050, but the COVID-19 pandemic has put the ever-important short-term success of the plan in jeopardy. “The level of effort and timelines of this plan are ambitious and unprecedented,” reads the final chapter […]
Birds of a feather attack together
Morning File, Thursday, October 31, 2019
News 1. Whitman running for mayor Matt Whitman is running for mayor in next year’s municipal election. Zane Woodford with The Star Halifax was at City Hall where Whitman announced his mayoral bid. I am absolutely convinced that my love for this great city, coupled with my determination to do right by you, its citizens, […]
“We need guts”
Morning File, Tuesday, October 29, 2019
News 1. Power back on after being cut for incident in South End NS Power cut power to thousands of residents in the South End Monday evening due to an incident on Harbourview Drive, which runs parallel to the rail cut and NS Power transmission lines. The information from police, via CBC News, is that […]
Halifax in two acts: The Hotel Barmecide
Morning File, Monday, October 28, 2019
News 1. Crowns Writes Stephen Kimber: After a crazy week of blind-siding legislation, insults, distortions, bluster, meaningless committee hearings and more fact-free moments than you’d find in a Trumpian White House, the province and its Crown attorneys are right back where they began — at the bargaining table. Well, not exactly as illustrated… Click here […]
The Climate Emergency
Part 3: How to turn off the economic growth engine
At about 14 minutes into the recent Federal Leaders’ debate there was a back and forth between Elizabeth May, leader of the Green Party of Canada, and Maxime Bernier, leader and founder of the People’s Party of Canada, in which Bernier — who advocates for free-market policies, liberalized trade and private property rights — called […]