CLIMATE + SUSTAINABILITY

Meet the Team

Lauren Clark, Climate & Energy Program Manager
lauren.clark@townofmahonebay.ca

Mahone Bay Greenhouse Gas Reduction Action Plan

Image of the cover page of the Town of Mahone Bay GHG Reduction Action Plan, March, 2021. Click the image to be taken to the document

Adopted in March 2021, The GHG Reduction Action Plan (“The Plan”) was a result of the Town recognizing the Climate Change Emergency and amending the Strategic Plan to include priorities for climate change mitigation and greenhouse gas (GHG) emission reduction. The Plan defines overarching goals for emission reductions and outlines actions to help realize a more sustainable and healthier future for the community.

Click on the cover image to read the full GHG Reduction Action Plan.

The original GHG Reduction Action Plan was reviewed by the Climate and Environment Advisory Committee, which led to the 2023 Update of the GHG Plan.

Click here to read the 2023 Update to the GHG Reduction Action Plan.

Actions to Reduce Emissions

Mahone Bay’s GHG inventory along with community engagement described in the Plan helps to better inform the Town on actions to effectively reduce overall emissions from corporate and community use. These actions align with an overall strategy for the Town and the utility and will help to exceed a 45% reduction in CO2 emissions by 2030 and put the community on track for net zero emissions by 2050.

Urban Forest Management Plan

The Town of Mahone Bay is interested in developing an Urban Forest Management Plan and is currently in the beginning stages of community engagement and data collection. Click here to check out our project page!

Electric Vehicle Chargers

Mahone Bay has invested in charging infrastructure for electric vehicles in partnership with AREA and the Pan-Maritime EV Charger Project. Eight new FLO SmartTwo chargers have been installed and are available for public use! These chargers will allow electric vehicle owners to charge up while visiting Mahone Bay. Electric vehicle owners will now also be able to take advantage of Mahone Bay’s green energy, which receives 84% of its energy supply from non-emitting sources. For more information on the chargers, their locations, and how to use them, click HERE.

Current Projects

Blue Route Hubs Bikeway Project in the Town of Mahone Bay

The Blue Route Hubs Bikeway Project is a collaboration between Bicycle Nova Scotia (BNS) and Mahone Bay. The project is intended to help Mahone Bay develop bicycle routes that make residents of all ages abilities feel comfortable cycling in their communities and encourage active transportation. In June 2019, BNS proposed a concept design for the selected bicycle route connecting to the School and Bay-to-Bay Trail.

Click on the cover image to access the Bikeway Concept Design.

Image of the cover page of the Bikeway Concept Designs. Click the image to be taken to the report

Ellershouse AREA Wind Farm

The Town of Mahone Bay is proud to be a partner in the Alternative Resource Energy Authority (AREA) a municipal partnership that runs the Ellershouse Windfarm, a source of renewable energy that supplies power to the AREA partners, the Towns of Antigonish, Berwick, and Mahone Bay including, Riverport Electric Light Commission. The Town’s partnership in AREA means cleaner energy for Mahone Bay residents and businesses and additional revenue for re-investment in capital projects serving the community.

See our Electric Utility page for more information

Still image from a video of a turbine with the words Ellershouse Wind Farm Nova Scotia. Click image to be taken to full video

Click here to access the 2021 AREA Annual Report
Click here to access the 2022 AREA Annual Report

Community Solar Garden

Mahone Bay is excited to take part in the province of Nova Scotia’s first large-scale community solar garden. Partnered with Alternative Resource Energy Authority (AREA) the new solar garden will be a 1.873MWpdc facility located within Mahone Bay that will account for about 16 percent of the Town’s electricity use.

To learn more, visit https://community-solar.ca

Image of solar panels on green grass with a blue sky with some clouds above.

Sustainable Initiatives Engagement Campaign

Mahone Bay has developed a strategy to support and implement the goals laid out in the GHG Action Plan by increasing the community’s awareness and understanding of local climate change/sustainability issues. These engagement strategies will empower community members to live sustainably by eating/buying locally, using active transportation, increasing land stewardship, reducing waste and learning about renewable energy. Engagement strategies include social media posting, highlights in the newsletter, community challenges & events, and more. Follow the Town’s Facebook page and check out the Monthly Newsletter to stay up to date with our current sustainability initiatives!

https://www.facebook.com/TownofMahoneBay/

Mahone Bay Living Shoreline

We are excited to announce the launch of the Mahone Bay Living Shoreline Pilot Project! Throughout the next two years, we will be piloting the project to help protect a 60m stretch of shoreline from flooding and erosion while enhancing coastal habitats.

This project is being completed in collaboration with Coastal Action, Intact Insurance, Trans Coastal Adaptations, CBCL, CB Wetlands & Environmental Specialists, and St Mary’s University.

Cartoon image of a sandy shoreline featuring stones, seaweed and a crab

Visit the Mahone Bay Living Shoreline website to access the latest information regarding the Living Shoreline Project! It also includes project updates, renderings, interactive 3D FloodMaps and more! See it at: www.mahonebaylivingshoreline.com