If you live in southeastern New Brunswick, you will soon see a massive transformation in the local energy landscape. Last summer, Saint John Energy announced plans for a 10 megawatt solar farm. At the time, developers called it the biggest solar project in the province. Now, a new proposal plans to beat that record by a factor of 15.

The Cookville Solar Project promises to supply 150 megawatts of electricity to the provincial grid. According to a recent report from CBC News, the facility produces enough electricity in a single year to supply 12,500 homes without generating any greenhouse gases.

A Record Breaking Partnership

The North Shore Mi’kmaq Tribal Council and renewable energy developer BNRG Renewables, based in Ireland, are partnering on the project. They plan to build the solar farm on a 400 hectare site in rural Cookville, located about 15 kilometres north of Sackville.

This project ranks as the second largest of its kind in Canada, sitting just behind the 465 megawatt Travers solar farm in Alberta.

Canadian Renewable Energy Association senior director Phil McKay notes the significance of the scale.

“It is big,” McKay told CBC News. “Certainly not the biggest to come, but it is a proper utility scale power plant.”

Farming the Sun

The proposed site spans three kilometres north to south. It covers partially developed and farmed properties owned mostly by the Acton family. The project requires installing 340,000 solar panels across 740 acres of the land.

The Acton family will continue to use the land after the solar panels are installed. They plan to maintain activities like sheep grazing, blueberry cultivation, and honey production alongside the energy infrastructure.

McKay points out that public reaction to large scale solar projects varies, but many people see the dual use of land as a major positive.

“It is understood as essentially a crop,” McKay said. “People have known for many generations how to harvest a crop from the land. And so this is energy that is coming in daily, and it is a land use that is seen as beneficial.”

Next Steps for the Project

Environmental impact assessment documents outline a construction timeline of 18 to 24 months. The developers expect to complete the project by mid 2029. The facility will operate for about 40 years before decommissioning.

The project also includes a new communications tower and an electrical substation.

NB Power has not yet signed an agreement to buy power from the Cookville project. The utility put out a call for 400 megawatts of renewable energy projects last May and continues to review proposals.

You can attend a public open house on May 27 to ask questions and learn more about the development.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where is the new solar farm located?

The project sits on 400 hectares of land in Cookville, located about 15 kilometres north of Sackville.

Who is building the solar farm?

A partnership between the North Shore Mi’kmaq Tribal Council and BNRG Renewables leads the project.

How much power will it generate?

The farm generates 150 megawatts of electricity. This provides enough power for 12,500 homes annually.

When will construction finish?

Developers plan to complete the project by mid 2029.