Environment Department working on eight-year N.S. carbon-pricing plan
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“People can not afford this rate hike,” Claudia Chender, the MLA for Dartmouth South, said of NSP’s application to its regulator, the Nova Scotia Utility and Review Board.
“In a province that has one of the worst energy poverty rates in the country, the Houston government must do more to protect power customers. NSP cares more about their shareholders than the people of Nova Scotia. If the premier wants to take real action to protect ratepayers he should address energy poverty and ensure there are strict accountability measures in the legislation he plans to change anyway.”
Energy poverty and home retrofits must be a key part of the government’s climate change and renewables plan, the NDP says, reviving a call for a Green Jobs Plan that could include plans and targets for renewable energy.
“Nova Scotia Power’s integrated resource plan is insufficient, I think that’s acknowledged by everyone, it doesn’t price carbon properly, doesn’t price it out any further than we are (now),” Chender said at the committee meeting. “There is no ability in the regulatory scheme right now for the regulator to take into account how quickly Nova Scotia Power is getting off (carbon) fuel so it seems to me that this cap and trade is one of the only ways that we can incent or control Nova Scotia Power’s emissions as Nova Scotians.”
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Chender acknowledged the legislative targets but said “there is also no penalty if they are not met.””