Nova Scotia tribunal overrules West Hants council, clears path for Bear Lake wind farm
Nova Scotia’s Regulatory and Appeals Board has ordered West Hants Regional Municipality to allow construction of a wind farm after councillors voted to block the project, ruling that the council’s refusal lacked evidentiary support and contradicted the municipality’s own planning strategy.
A council vote overturned
The Bear Lake wind farm, proposed by EverWind Fuels and Wind Strength — a company owned by Membertou First Nation — would place at least seven of its turbines within West Hants’ boundaries, with additional turbines in Halifax Regional Municipality and the Municipality of the District of Chester.
The project first came before West Hants council in 2024, when councillors postponed debate and requested more information from the proponents. When the application returned last fall, municipal staff recommended approval — but council rejected it by a single vote, citing concerns over inadequate fire suppression, forest industrialization, and potential interference with residential development.
The proponents appealed, triggering a public hearing earlier this year. The board’s written decision found that council’s refusal to enter into a development agreement was unsupported by evidence and inconsistent with West Hants’ own municipal planning strategy.
Part of a larger green energy push
Bear Lake is one of four wind farms EverWind hopes to build in the first phase of a sweeping provincial expansion. The company is developing onshore wind capacity to power a green hydrogen and ammonia facility — a project that has attracted significant investment.
EverWind recently secured $175 million US in funding and has indicated construction on its first wind farms could begin this year. The company is led by Trent Vichie, a New York-based Australian businessman.
EverWind communications director Claire Parsons said the company welcomed the board’s ruling. “We remain committed to working collaboratively with the West Hants Regional Municipality and local communities,” Parsons said in a statement. “We are currently reviewing the decision in detail and evaluating next steps for the project.”
Municipal resistance and provincial intervention
West Hants did not respond to a request for comment on the tribunal’s decision. The municipality had previously attempted to limit wind turbine construction by mandating 2.5-kilometre setbacks from private properties — a measure that drew intervention from the provincial government.
EverWind has already secured a development agreement with the Municipality of the District of Chester and a development permit with Halifax Regional Municipality for the turbines falling within those jurisdictions.
