Sugar Maple Wind Energy Project Approved

Press Release

May 22 2026

The Sugar Maple Wind Energy Project in Pictou County received its environmental assessment approval today, May 22.

Construction of the 16-turbine wind farm, expected to begin in 2027, will create about 150 jobs. Once operational in 2028, Sugar Maple is expected to employ about seven people full- and part-time for about 25 years and generate $1.2 million in municipal tax revenue each year.

The project will generate about 112 megawatts of clean electricity, enough to power the equivalent of about 35,000 homes and reduce Nova Scotia’s annual greenhouse gas emissions by about 234,905 tonnes – the equivalent of taking about 51,000 gas-powered cars off the road.

It must comply with 56 terms and conditions designed to protect the environment and human health.

Quick Facts:

• the Sugar Maple Wind Energy Project is being developed by Glooscap First Nation and SWEB Development Ltd.
• it will be located in Upper Barneys River
• Sugar Maple is a Green Choice Program project
• the program was a commitment in Our Climate, Our Future: Nova Scotia’s Climate Change Plan for Clean Growth, with goals to add more clean energy to the grid, bring more green jobs and investments to Nova Scotia, help stabilize power rates and decrease greenhouse gas emissions

Additional Resources:

Environmental assessment approval and project documents for the Sugar Maple Wind Energy Project: https://novascotia.ca/nse/ea/sugar-maple-wind-energy/

More information on the environmental assessment process is available at: https://novascotia.ca/environmental-assessment-getting-started/

Green Choice Program: https://novascotia.ca/green-choice-program

News release – Green Choice Program for Large-Scale Electricity Customers: https://news.novascotia.ca/en/2023/12/01/green-choice-program-large-scale-electricity-customers

Environmental Goals and Climate Change Reduction Act: https://nslegislature.ca/sites/default/files/legc/statutes/environmental%20goals%20and%20climate%20change%20reduction.pdf

Our Climate, Our Future: Nova Scotia’s Climate Change Plan for Clean Growth: https://climatechange.novascotia.ca/sites/default/files/uploads/ns-climate-change-plan.pdf

Nova Scotia’s 2030 Clean Power Plan: https://www.novascotia.ca/sites/default/files/documents/1-3582/nova-scotia-clean-power-plan-presentation-en.pdf

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