The Cumberland Energy Authority was formed in 2012 through an Inter-Municipal Agreement between the Municipality of the County of Cumberland, the Town of Parrsboro, and the former Town of Springhill to promote regional energy development.
3rd Annual Cumberland Energy Symposium
"Cumberland County: Trailblazers in Climate Change"
This years Symposium theme, Cumberland County: Trailblazers in Climate Change, is focused around building off of last years Climate Change Retreat. This year, on Thursday, May 24th, join us for this FREE event, where we will bring together past thinkers, community members, academics, & members from the renewable energy sector. This year we will be exploring the outcomes of the fall Climate Change Retreat, and will be applying this to the region of Cumberland County and moving forward. Cumberland County has a vast amount of resources that will aid in the County being trailblazers for the future.
Thinkers Lodge Climate Change Retreat Outcomes
From Thursday September 28th until Sunday October 1st, a momentous event took place. A Climate Change Retreat, put on by the Cumberland Energy Authority, the Centre for Local Prosperity, along with the Thinkers Lodge. This event was held in Pugwash Nova Scotia, at the historical Thinkers Lodge. This location held important significance, as 60 years ago it was where the first ever Pugwash Conference was held. This conference brought together people from both sides of the iron curtain, who were deemed as “thinkers”. These thinkers were brought together by the owner of the lodge, and Pugwash citizen Cyrus Eaton. These thinkers, inspired by the Russel-Einstein Manifesto, came together to talk about the threat of nuclear war. This year, we brought together thinkers from Atlantic Canada, and beyond, to talk about a new threat, climate change.
Management Without Borders - Tidal Power Readiness Project
Dalhousie University masters students partner with the Cumberland Energy Authority
Dalhousie University masters students, in partnership with the Cumberland Energy Authority, have conducted a review of tidal power readiness in Cumberland County. This study identifies local opportunities for tidal power in the Cumberland area involving economic development opportunities for residential and commercial development, land-use planning, and necessary infrastructure updates.
Cape Sharp Tidal Safely Deploys First OpenHydro Turbine
Monday November 7th, 2016 at 10:40AM, Cape Sharp Tidal safely deployed the first OpenHydro Open-Centre turbine at the Fundy Ocean Research Centre for Energy (FORCE) near Parrsboro, Nova Scotia. The operation—our first attempt—was completed in one tidal cycle, while holding station in the Crown Lease Area.
Atlantic Towing’s Kingfisher towed the Scotia Tide deployment barge from West Bay to the site early this morning. Once in position over our berth, the Cape Sharp Tidal turbine was lowered to the sea floor in a 4-hour operation on an ebb tide. Several expert marine partners contributed to this precision work, including Nova Scotia companies Atlantic Towing (Dartmouth), Seaforth (Dartmouth), Mike Huntley (Kentville) and RMI (Dartmouth). More than 25 local crews participated.
During the remainder of this week’s deployment window, we will be focused on completing the grid-connection to FORCE’s subsea cable, and delivering Nova Scotia’s first in-stream tidal energy to the Provincial power grid. In the next few days, we’ll connect the turbine cable tail and our Y-shaped connector cable by lifting each from the sea floor and joining them on the deck of Atlantic Towing’s Beaver Barge.
We owe thanks to many who contributed to the success of turbine deployment: to FORCE for on-shore coordination and hosting; to local fishermen who lent their knowledge and understanding of the Minas Passage; and to many local Parrsboro businesses for extending their operating hours to support our people during our time in town.
Thank you for your ongoing interest and support of the project.
Sarah Dawson
Community Relations Manager
902-471-4497
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Art Meets Science - Tidal Energy Tour with Students
Cumberland Energy Authority, FORCE & Minas Energy have partnered to educate students about the region's tidal power. On April 18, 90 students from Spring Street Academy travelled to Parrsboro to visit the Fundy Ocean Research Centre for Energy to learn about renewable energy. Following the tour, students were asked to apply imagination, manual dexterity, and a love for art in creating their own personal versions of what is possible at the FORCE site.
Cumberland Energy Authority Partners with Dalhousie University on Springhill Geothermal Green Industrial Park Initiative
The Cumberland Energy Authority has partnered with students from the Management Without Borders program at Dalhousie University to develop a comprehensive external/internal analysis and a preliminary communications plan for the development of a Springhill Geothermal Green Industrial Park.
The report recommends the following:
- Continue studies on existing mineshafts to develop a better understanding of capacity.
- Explore the creation of long term monitoring programs of companies currently using geothermal.
- Ensure legal requirements are in place prior to development.
Investigate funding/incentive mechanisms to promote development.
To read the full report, please see
pdf
Springhill Geothermal Green Industrial Park Initiative
(2.51 MB)
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Cumberland Energy, Verschuren Centre Partner on Springhill Geothermal Study
The Cumberland Energy Authority announced a new partnership with the Verschuren Centre for Sustainability in Energy and the Environment to research the commercial potential for geothermal energy in Springhill.
pdf Information Sheet on Geothermal Study (357 KB)
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