Community groups can build solar gardens under new Nova Scotia program

Nova Scotia’s $5.2-million Community Solar Program will help community groups build solar gardens. (Sebastian Ganso via Pixabay)

The Nova Scotia government has created a $5.2-million fund to help community groups and businesses set up solar gardens and sell the electricity.

The Community Solar Program is open to non-profits, co-operatives, First Nations communities, municipalities, businesses, universities and colleges. New solar gardens are expected to be up and running by spring 2026. 

Once people subscribe, they will get a solar energy credit of two cents per kilowatt hour on their power bill.

Groups can team up to build the solar gardens. Each one can generate up to 10 megawatts of power, according to the province. One megawatt of solar power can power up to 131 homes for a year.

The program is expected to introduce up to 500 megawatts of renewable energy by 2026, according to a news release from the Department of Natural Resources and Renewables.

“Not everyone has the ability to install their own solar panels,” Tory Rushton, minister of natural resources and renewables, said in the release. 

“This program creates the opportunity to buy solar energy from a community provider instead.”

Program details and an application form are available online here.

Email: rickconradqccr@gmail.com