Plenary Lecture
The Ascent of Wind Power in Nova Scotia: Pubnico Point Wind Farm
Professor Richard K. Snow
Applied Aviation Sciences
Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University
USA
E-mail: snow4fc@erau.edu
Abstract: The government of Nova Scotia, Canada, passed the Environmental Goals and Sustainable Prosperity Act in 2007 which establishes guidelines for long-term economic and environmental well-being. The general objective of the act was to demonstrate, that though proper planning and management, Nova Scotia can provide the daily needs of its citizens while promoting a healthy and sustainable environment. The specific goals outlined by the act include a 10% reduction of greenhouse gas emissions (below 1990 levels) by 2020, along with the production of 18.5% of the province’s electrical energy from renewable sources. The driving force behind the Environmental Goals and Sustainable Prosperity Act is climate change. Nova Scotia has 7,600 kilometers of coastline. Its leaders understand the serious concerns of rising sea levels and the forecast increase in both the frequency and strength of nor’easters and hurricanes, as well as their related storm surge. To mitigate these risks, Nova Scotia is reducing its dependence on fossil fuels for generating electricity through the development of wind energy. This research examines the establishment of the Pubnico Point Wind Farm on the southern coast of Nova Scotia by analyzing the general considerations in determining a successful wind energy production site, including the identification of favorable and unfavorable environmental and cultural components, and the importance of incorporating the participation of the local population during the planning phase of the project. The paper describes impacts of a wind field on the environment and its inhabitants, and explains the necessity of ongoing monitoring, maintenance, and management of a wind farm as it is integrated into a community.
Brief Biography of the Speaker: Dr. Richard Snow earned his B.S. in Geography (summa cum laude) and his M.S. in Geoscience from Western Kentucky University prior to taking his Ph.D. in Physical Geography from Indiana State University in 1999. Rich is a Professor of Meteorology and teaches courses in Meteorology, Climatology, and Geographic Information Systems (GIS) in the Department of Applied Aviation Sciences at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University. Prior to joining Embry-Riddle in August 2001, Rich worked for two years as a GIS Specialist at the County of Volusia, Florida. His wife of 37 years, Dr. Mary Snow, is also a professor of Meteorology at Embry-Riddle. The couple recently purchased a farmhouse built in 1905 along with 10 acres of farmland on the Bay of Fundy in Nova Scotia.