UPPER AFTON – Days after announcing a $240-million financing deal to advance four of its Nova Scotia wind developments, EverWind Fuels has registered its Upper Afton Wind Project in Guysborough County for provincial environmental assessment.
The renewable energy company formally filed the 176-megawatt project with Nova Scotia’s Department of Environment and Climate Change on March 6, triggering a 30-day review that will culminate in a ministerial decision on or before Saturday, April 25.
According to a notice issued by EverWind, “the purpose of the proposed undertaking” between EverWind NS Holdings Ltd. and Membertou Development Corporation is to construct and operate a wind power project across Antigonish and Guysborough counties “that will generate renewable electricity to produce green hydrogen and ammonia for local use and export.”
The environmental assessment filing follows a series of public consultations held in January, when EverWind first outlined the proposed Upper Afton development at open houses in Antigonish and Guysborough counties.
At the time, Mark Stewart, EverWind’s director of engagement, said the project remained in its early planning phase and that formal regulatory steps were expected in the coming months.
“This is a time for learning and input before formal regulatory steps, including the environmental assessment, which is expected to be registered in the next few months,” Stewart told The Journal in January.
Though it had not yet been registered for environmental assessment, the project was included last week in EverWind’s announcement that Nuveen Energy Infrastructure Credit will support construction of more than 650 megawatts of permitted, shovel-ready onshore wind generation across Nova Scotia, along with delivery of the Point Tupper Green Fuels Project.
The other three developments referenced in that announcement have already received provincial environmental approvals: the Windy Ridge project in Colchester County, with up to 49 turbines and 376 megawatts; the Kmtnuk project, also in Colchester County, with up to 16 turbines and 128 megawatts; and the Bear Lake project, located mostly in Hants County, with up to 15 turbines and 89 megawatts.
According to the project summary filed last week, the Upper Afton project will consist of up to 28 turbines, each standing approximately 222 metres to the tip of the rotor blade and generating up to eight megawatts.
The development would include access roads, electrical collector lines, a substation and switching station, temporary laydown areas and an operations and maintenance building. The project footprint is expected to cover approximately 596 hectares across Crown, municipal and private land near Upper Afton, Merland, New France, Upper Big Tracadie, South Merland and Rear Monastery.
The summary also acknowledged potential environmental effects, including wetland alteration, about 55 watercourse crossings, habitat loss and fragmentation, and collision risks for birds and bats. EverWind noted that it has revised its plans to reduce those impacts and will monitor wildlife, compensate for wetland losses where required and address noise or shadow flicker complaints if they arise.
The company said the development will “create local jobs,” estimating 200 to 250 construction positions and about eight long-term operations roles. The summary also references a community fund, bursary support for training and youth education, and Indigenous economic participation through the Membertou Development Corporation.
The Upper Afton filing comes four months after EverWind received provincial environmental approval for its 432-megawatt Setapuktuk Wind Project in the Municipality of the District of Guysborough (MODG).
That project includes 54 turbines near Pirate Harbour, Middle Melford, Sand Point, Hadleyville and Manchester and is expected to create 350 to 400 construction jobs and between 20 and 35 long-term operations positions. EverWind has projected more than $3 million in indexed annual municipal tax revenue for MODG and approximately $432,000 per year for a community benefits fund.
Like the Upper Afton development, the Setapuktuk project is being co-developed with Membertou First Nation and would generate renewable electricity to power industrial-scale green hydrogen and ammonia production at the company’s Point Tupper Green Fuels facility.
If approved, construction at Upper Afton could begin as early as late 2026, with commissioning targeted for 2029. The facility is expected to operate for approximately 35 years.
Written public comments may be submitted to the Department of Environment and Climate Change until Wednesday, April 15.
