Province speeding ahead with green plan: Dooks

TheNova Scotia governmentplans to double the amount of renewable energy used inthe provinceby 2013, Energy Minister Bill Dooks said Wednesday.

The Tory government will requireNova Scotia Power to produce more of its power from wind, solar, tidal and other renewable sources, he told delegatesto a conference in Halifax on sustainable energy.

Currently, about 10 per cent of the utility's electrical mix is produced this way, Dooks said.

"Our renewable energy goals must be practical and lasting," he said. "We need to make sure that the lights stay on in Nova Scotia, that if the wind stops blowing there will be power from other means."

Some suppliers of wind energy say while they're supportive of the government's plan, Nova Scotia Power doesn't pay enough for the wind energy it already buys.

Robert Leth ofBreton Wind Works said hewants the right to sell wind-generated electricity directly to anyone who wants it,thoughthe government's plan doesn't allow that.

Dooks also said the province will award a contract for a pilot project involving tidal power by next spring.