GUYSBOROUGH — EverWind Fuels is committing potentially millions of dollars to a new fund that will serve the development goals of individual communities in the Municipality of the District of Guysborough (MODG), company and municipal officials said last week.
“As part of a binding community benefits agreement with the Municipality of the District of Guysborough, EverWind will be creating a community vibrancy fund that can assist in the development of community-led projects and initiatives,” Adam Langer, EverWind’s director of public affairs, told The Journal in an email. “The funds will be directed by a community liaison committee that will include representatives from the community.”
Added Sean O’Connor, MODG’s director of economic and community development, in a separate email to The Journal: “This fund is intended to support community-led projects, not municipal projects, and will be administered through the developer, with guidance and input from the community liaison committee.”
EverWind announced earlier this year that it had struck a community benefits agreement (CBA) with MODG that could pour millions of dollars into the local economy over the coming years. In interviews with The Journal, and at subsequent public open houses, company officials have estimated that the agreement could raise as much a $1,000 for every megawatt from the two gigawatts (2,000 MW) expected to be generated annually at up to three main wind farms in MODG and the Municipality of the District of St. Mary’s.
In his email last week, Langer confirmed that the new vibrancy fund “is funded separately from the per-megawatt revenue that the municipality will receive through the wind turbine tax for the lifespan of the project.” Earlier estimates pegged these yearly, commercial levies at approximately $14.3 million for MODG and $3.23 million for St. Mary’s.
The three wind farms – incorporating as many as 400 turbines spread across 64,000 hectares in MODG and St. Mary’s and scheduled to become operational in 2027-28 – would supply renewable energy to EverWind’s Point Tupper plant, fueling its $6 billion plan to produce green hydrogen for export to European markets.
According to its website, “The community-led vibrancy fund will allow communities to invest in the initiatives they value and benefit from. [It] will be replenished annually for the lifespan of the project.” As well, it says: “We are investing in a local work force by providing scholarships and skilled employment training to ensure a long-term local workforce.”
Said O’Connor in his email: “EverWind is in the early stages of establishing the community liaison committee for windfarm #1 [located north of St. Francis Harbour and to the east of Boylston].”