Newfoundland firm floats proposal for ambitious, $4B wind farm off Nova Scotia
by The Canadian Press
Plan would see 120 turbines installed off Yarmouth, on southwest tip of N.S.
Offshore wind farms benefit from higher wind speeds than their land-based counterparts, often allowing them to generate more power. PHOTO: Kikos, via Wikimedia Commons
HALIFAX—A company based in Newfoundland and Labrador says it wants to build a $4-billion, 1,000 megawatt wind farm in the shallow waters off the southwest coast of Nova Scotia.
Beothuk Energy Inc. of St. John’s has floated a proposal that would see it build and install 120 turbines south of Yarmouth and then link them to the northeastern United States via a 370-kilometre subsea cable.
The company says it has formed partnerships with leaders in finance, construction and the offshore wind industry sector, but a company statement released Monday did not offer details about financing.
Beothuk says the turbines would be placed about 20 kilometres from shore in water that is 30 metres deep or less.
CEO Kirby Mercer Beothuk says the company is in discussions with Canadian and American utilities and independent power producers regarding power purchase agreements and partnerships
He says the company plans to hold talks with Nova Scotia stakeholders early next year.
