An awful lot of work and investment has already gone into the plan by Cape Sharp Tidal to install the first of two turbines in a test location in the Minas Basin near Parrsboro. It’s in an area where the water narrows considerably, so it’s not hard to see why members of the Bay of Fundy Inshore Fishermen’s Association have concerns.
The project draws great interest locally, of course, with the five-storey-high turbine having been constructed in Pictou by Aecon Fabco. It was supposed to be taken by barge around the province to the test site.
Much to the credit of Cape Sharp Tidal, the company decided to delay the work to hear the concerns of the fishing group.
But there’s more. As reported last week in an article by The Canadian Press, Nova Scotia Environment Minister Margaret Miller said the province has yet to approve a proposed environmental effects monitoring program. That will involve working with DFO to compile the information needed for approval.
Again, we might have expected that study to be at least well underway, with fishermen, ecologists and any other interested parties kept in the loop.
A lot of people – in this country and others – are pinning hopes on development of this technology. It comes along at a time when the production of renewable, cleaner energy is in high demand.
Environmental effects and human health risks always have to be a priority in developing any new resource. But with the benefit of hindsight, we know every form of energy production carries some drawbacks, some bigger than others. Fossil fuels, hydro projects, wind, tidal – if we set up a plus and minus column for each, it soon becomes apparent that we achieve “green energy” sources only in a relative sense.
Comments from scientists on this project suggest that one or two turbines in that area would mean little ecological disturbance.
That’s good. But we have to remember that the long-range plan is to build a lot more of these sites in the Bay of Fundy, which boasts the highest tides in the world.
So while we take care of this dilemma, government and stakeholders should keep that bigger picture in mind and perform necessary studies before the equipment is set to install.