The warden of Richmond County says the paper mill’s new windfarm will benefit each of the quad counties.
The Port Hawkesbury Paper mill just reached their funding goal, thanks to a federal loan of more $224 million dollars.
Warden Lois Landry says a boost to business in one county is good for all of them, because they’re such a tight-knit set of communities.
“It’s great news when we hear about expansions or any kind of upgrades of any sort at a Richmond County business,” says Landry.
“But what I think is particularly significant here is the move towards really environmentally sustainable practices.”
The mill is also the largest industrial user of electricity in the province.
The Goose Harbour Lake Wind Project, which will be built in Guysborough County, will significantly reduce the province’s carbon emissions.
She says this is a huge step to bring Nova Scotia to net zero greenhouse gas emissions.
The project costs $450 million in total and will create 150 jobs at the peak of construction, according to a news release.
The funding comes from the Canada Infrastructure Bank, a federal crown corporation. Of the $224 million loan, $217.9 million will go right to the mill for the project.
But $6.3 million is going to the Wskijinu’k Mtmo’taqnuow Agency Ltd. (WMA), which represents 13 Mi’kmaw First Nations, so they can buy a 10 per cent stake in the wind farm project.
