NationTalk: Glooscap First Nation is taking action to become more energy independent, improve resilience during power outages and make energy more affordable for residents.
With funding from the Province’s Sustainable Communities Challenge Fund, the community will install:
- a solar energy system
- an electric vehicle charging station
- a new microgrid, an independent small system that generates, stores and distributes electricity.
Municipal Affairs and Housing Minister John Lohr, MLA for Kings North, announced the funding today, April 26, on behalf of Timothy Halman, Minister of Environment and Climate Change.
“This is the community-led leadership that is needed in response to climate change,” said Minister Lohr. “The Province is pleased to support Glooscap in switching to clean, renewable energy that will reduce their carbon footprint and help them become more energy independent.”
The Province is investing $832,418, with $425,000 coming from the federal government.
Quotes:
“This project is only feasible because of the amazing work and dedication by the Glooscap First Nation leaders. In addition to reducing the community’s carbon footprint, it will make it more resilient and create new economic opportunities. This will help the people of Glooscap First Nation get a fair chance at fully participating in the economy, which is crucial to advancing towards reconciliation.”
— Kody Blois, Member of Parliament for Kings-Hants, on behalf of Patty Hajdu, Minister of Indigenous Services
“We are thrilled to announce that Glooscap First Nation is embarking on a transformative journey with solar panels being installed on Glooscap Landing. Thanks to financial support from the governments of Canada and Nova Scotia, this initiative will offset over 90 per cent of Glooscap Landing’s energy consumption. This is a testament to our collective commitment to sustainability and shaping a greener and more prosperous future for Glooscap First Nation. We continue to prioritize our community’s well-being and environmental harmony.”
— Chief Sidney Peters, Glooscap First Nation
“Communities across Nova Scotia continue to seek innovative solutions to the challenges of climate change. Through the Sustainable Communities Challenge Fund, the Nova Scotia Federation of Municipalities is delighted to support Glooscap First Nation’s energy-efficient infrastructure updates. Funded through the mitigation stream, this project seeks to avoid and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. We support the project’s aim to offset electricity consumption and increase climate resilience.”
— Juanita Spencer, CEO, Nova Scotia Federation of Municipalities
Quick Facts:
- the Sustainable Communities Challenge Fund is available to municipalities, non-profit and community organizations, post-secondary institutions and Mi’kmaw communities to help them respond to and prepare for climate change impacts, and to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
- the Sustainable Communities Challenge Fund was created on October 27, 2021, as part of the Environmental Goals and Climate Change Reduction Act, the government’s legislated commitment to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, respond to climate change, transform how Nova Scotians produce and use energy, make homes more energy efficient, and more
- the fund launched on November 7, 2022, with $15 million in funding to support projects that help communities adapt to climate change, mitigate its impacts and help Nova Scotia reduce its greenhouse gas emissions; on September 28, 2023, the fund was topped up by $15.4 million and extended to 2028
- the Nova Scotia Federation of Municipalities was selected through a request for proposals process to develop and administer the Sustainable Communities Challenge Fund on behalf of the government
- the Glooscap First Nation project was funded under the first round of the program; the fund’s second round opened on October 17 and closed in November
Additional Resources:
More information on the Sustainable Communities Challenge Fund is available at:https://nschallengefund.ca/
News releases about the fund and related projects: https://news.novascotia.ca/search/all?field_topics=228
Environmental Goals and Climate Change Reduction Act: https://nslegislature.ca/sites/default/files/legc/statutes/environmental%20goals%20and%20climate%20change%20reduction.pdf
Our Climate, Our Future: Nova Scotia’s Climate Change Plan for Clean Growth: https://climatechange.novascotia.ca/sites/default/files/uploads/ns-climate-change-plan.pdf
Weathering What’s Ahead: Climate Change Risk and Nova Scotia’s Well-being: https://climatechange.novascotia.ca/climate-impacts