Wind Energy Generation Master Plan

Project Description
Terrain, in collaboration with Jacques Whitford, developed the Wind Energy Generation Master Plan for the Halifax Regional Municipality (HRM). This was the first plan of its kind in the Province of Nova Scotia. The work involved local, national and international research on the impacts of wind turbines and the types of regulations used in other jurisdictions to manage them.

Services Provided
Terrain’s planning team was responsible for researching the impacts related to wind turbines. This involved research on experience in other countries as well as within Canada. In addition to the research on impacts, Terrain also studied the regulations already in place for Municipalities who have experience with the management of wind turbines. The study areas were the Municipality of Argyle, Nova Scotia and the Municipality of Pincher Creek, Alberta.

The project involved having a firm understanding of the impacts and regulatory tools available for managing the development of wind turbines in Nova Scotia. Additionally, we reviewed Federal and Provincial legislation to avoid duplicating any existing regulatory procedures. This was followed by the development of draft regulations that focused on mitigating the impacts related to wind turbines. The draft regulations were written in a manner to address the rapid changes in technology by enabling variances to baseline requirements, the use of site planning approval and development agreements based on the characteristics of urban or rural environments.