The Record Ep. 37

On January 20 in Mulgrave, the provincial government announced infrastructure upgrades that will enhance the safe and efficient transport of large turbines through the Strait of Canso Superport.

As part of the project, a prefabricated bridge will be installed at the Mulgrave Marine Terminal, improving access to commercial transport routes in the region. According to a government press release, the funding will support the installation of a 44-metre steel bridge at the terminal’s northern end, providing direct access to Route 374. The bridge, purchased from Zutphen Construction for $400,000, is part of a broader $750,000 investment in capital upgrades to the terminal.

This investment is expected to support future wind energy projects, including proposed onshore wind farms in Guysborough County.

The provincial government also unveiled its 2025-2026 Five-Year Highway Improvement Plan on January 21. The plan includes an investment of over $500 million in major highway and road projects, repaving, bridge replacements, capital maintenance, and infrastructure work across Nova Scotia.

Key projects include modernization efforts for the Port Hastings rotary, set to begin this year. In Richmond County, scheduled asphalt projects include:

• 4 km from St. Peter’s-Forchu Road to Ferguson Road

• 2.9 km from Janvrin Harbour Road to MacDonald Road

• 3.7 km along Cedar Drive on West Bay Road

• 1 km from Port Royal Road to Route 206 along MacEachern Road

• 3.3 km from Robins Road to Bay Street along Veterans Memorial Drive

Additionally, gravel road projects for Richmond County in 2025-2026 include:

• 4.97 km from Northside Loch Lomond Road to the county line on Hay Cove Road

• 1.04 km from St. Peter’s Forchu Road to the end of L’Archeveque Road

• 4.28 km from St. Peter’s Forchu Road to Three Rivers Road along Stirling Road

Bridge replacement and rehabilitation projects in the county include work on the MacRaes Brook Culvert on West Bay Road.

Meanwhile, efforts to rebuild the Tamarac Education Centre Playground in Port Hawkesbury are ongoing. At a January 7 public meeting of Port Hawkesbury Town Council, committee chair Karen MacKinnon described the current state of the playground as "pretty sad." Wooden structures were removed about four years ago, and no replacement plan was initially developed, leaving only minimal equipment on-site.

While the committee received $5,000 in SEED funding, MacKinnon noted that a full playground installation typically costs at least $150,000. She emphasized the loss not only for students but also for the community, as there are no play spaces in that part of town. The playground connects to the Port Hawkesbury Community Trail system and serves as a venue for track and field competitions.

With support from school administrators and staff, the committee has focused on fundraising and advocacy. Efforts have included popcorn sales, a road race during the Festival of the Strait, a bingo night, a yard sale, a silent auction, a Christmas concert, and multiple 50-50 draws. The committee is also launching a GoFundMe campaign and organizing a benefit concert at the SAERC auditorium on April 5.

Although local businesses and industry have contributed, MacKinnon said many funding sources have been exhausted. She argued that the playground should qualify for capital funding from the Department of Education and Early Childhood Education but noted that existing grant criteria often exclude their project. The committee has contacted the department, engaged with local media, and been active on social media to raise awareness.

Former Inverness MLA Allan MacMaster encouraged the committee to apply for a Recreation Facilities Grant, with a deadline of February 14. They also plan to meet with new Inverness MLA Kyle MacQuarrie. The committee has raised $45,000 and plans to build the playground in phases as funds allow. In response to their request, Port Hawkesbury Town Council agreed to provide a letter of support and advocate for the project with various organizations and government agencies. Financial support from the town will be considered during the upcoming budget deliberations.

In other news, EverWind Fuels reached a financial milestone for its proposed green energy project in Point Tupper. On January 9, the company announced it had successfully submitted the Clean Hydrogen Investment Tax Credit Clean Hydrogen Project Property Plan for Phase 1 of its Point Tupper Green Ammonia Project to Natural Resources Canada.

Upon confirmation, the Point Tupper project is expected to be Canada’s first to secure the tax credit, qualifying for the maximum 40% credit value based on its independently validated carbon intensity. This step allows EverWind to access tax credits covering 40% of eligible capital expenditures, as the project aims to achieve a carbon intensity of less than 0.75 kg of carbon dioxide per kg of green hydrogen.

EverWind emphasized that these investment tax credits are crucial for making Canada a leader in cost-efficient, green hydrogen production. The company’s submission included a front-end engineering design study and a carbon intensity assessment conducted using the Fuel Life Cycle Assessment Model. Validation was completed with RWDI, an engineering and environmental consultancy, and Deloitte Canada, which specializes in carbon intensity analysis.

According to EverWind, the results confirm a 99% reduction in carbon emissions compared to fossil fuel-based hydrogen production. With the tax credit confirmed, EverWind is well-positioned to finalize binding offtake agreements and begin construction on its multi-billion-dollar production and transportation facility in 2025. Since 2022, the company has invested over $200 million in infrastructure, engineering, and development at its Point Tupper site. Projected capital expenditures for Phases 1 and 2 are estimated at $3.4 billion and $10.3 billion, respectively.

In a separate development, the Bras d’Or Lake Collaborative Environmental Planning Initiative (CEPI) identified erosion issues along the Bras d’Or Lake. During a committee-of-the-whole session of Richmond Municipal Council on January 14, Stan Johnson from CEPI provided a presentation on the environmental concerns.

Finally, Cape Breton-Canso MP Mike Kelloway addressed the next steps for the Liberal Party of Canada during the meeting.