The future of clean energy in Sydney is looking bright with a second solar garden coming to the community.
Sydney Solar will be built on Grand Lake Road as part of the Province’s Community Solar Program. The program allows people to subscribe to solar gardens for clean electricity at a reduced cost.
“Nova Scotia is blessed with natural resources – including the sun – to power our green economy and move to clean electricity,” said John White, MLA for Glace Bay-Dominion, on behalf of Energy Minister Trevor Boudreau. “This new solar garden in Sydney means investment in the community, more green jobs, a greener grid and a chance for Nova Scotians to take some ownership of the move to clean energy.”
AI Renewables and the Multicultural Association of Cape Breton are partnering on the Sydney Solar project. The Province is contributing $340,000 to help build the solar garden, which will produce 1.7 megawatts.
The company is also partnering with other organizations to build solar gardens in West Petpeswick, Halifax Regional Municipality, and Brooklyn, Annapolis County.
The first solar garden in the program launched in the fall at Pine Tree Park Estates in Sydney. It is supplying 555 kilowatts of solar energy to 29 residential and commercial subscribers in facilities owned by New Dawn Entreprises.
The Province created the Community Solar Program to provide people who cannot install their own solar panels the option to buy solar power from a community provider. The reasons why people cannot generate solar power vary, including lack of roof space, too much shade, living in an apartment, condo or other shared housing arrangement, or cost.
The Community Solar Program advances Action 18 in in Our Climate, Our Future: Nova Scotia’s Climate Change Plan for Clean Growth. The government is committed to introducing at least 500 megawatts of new local, renewable energy by 2026 and an additional 50 megawatts of new community solar to be built over five years.
The plan aims to create a cleaner, healthier and more sustainable future for all Nova Scotians. It includes initiatives to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, switch to clean energy, create a clean economy, make homes and buildings energy efficient and able to stand up to the impacts of climate change, and help Nova Scotians adapt to the changing climate.
Read news release here: https://news.novascotia.ca/en/2025/05/05/second-solar-garden-coming-sydney