Tufts Cove
Generating Station
Community Newsletter
Spring 2013
FROM THE PLANT MANAGER
HISTORY
Welcome and thank you for reading the first
edition of the Tufts Cove Generating Station’s
community newsletter. We hope to issue new
editions a few times a year that will keep you up
to date on what’s happening here at the plant
and provide updates on our work with the newly
formed Community Liaison Committee.
1965 - Plant opens with one generating
unit capable of burning oil or coal to make
electricity.
Regards,
Tony Stevens
Plant Manager, Tufts Cove
NOISE UPDATE
Noise issues experienced by some community
members early last fall have been largely
resolved. For a period in September, residents
may have heard a series of loud bangs on and
off due to a ruptured water line on one of our
generating units, and a sustained loud rumbling
noise associated with starting up another unit
to generate electricity.
As outlined in our recent letter to neighbours,
we’re pleased to have completed necessary
repairs to the water main that fixed the first
noise issue, and have recently installed a
muffler system that will continue to significantly
reduce noise associated with starting up one
of our generators on an ongoing basis. Still, we
recognize these noises were louder than what
could be reasonably expected in the community
and apologize for any inconvenience they may
have caused.
Tufts Cove in the mid-1960s
1972 - Unit 1 is converted to burn only oil as
a second unit is added in 1972. Unit 3, which
also burns oil, is added in 1976.
1999-2000 - Units 1-3 are converted to also
burn natural gas, greatly reducing emissions.
2003-2004 - Two natural gas combustion
turbines, known as Units 4 and 5, are added
to the property outside the main building.
2011-2012 - A sixth Unit is added capable
of producing power by recycling waste heat
from Units 4 and 5.
2012 - Tufts Cove supplies 21% of Nova
Scotia’s electricity, all from natural gas.
FUN FACT
RECYCLING HEAT
Many neighbours would have noticed
construction on the south side of the property
in recent years. The Tufts Cove Waste Heat
Recovery project resulted in an additional 50
megawatts of electricity to the plant, enough to
power up to 35,000 homes.
For several years following its construction
in 1965, the plant featured a large sign of
“Reddy Kilowatt,” a popular mascot among
electricity utilities, together with lettering
promoting the former Nova Scotia Light and
Power Company, Limited. With it’s large size
and flashing “NSLP” letters, the sign was at
the time one of the most widely recognizable
features of Halifax Harbour and clearly
visible from the MacDonald Bridge.
The sign was removed to make way for an
expansion of the plant. By the time it would
have been reinstalled in 1972, the mascot
was being used less often and the private
Nova Scotia Light and Power Company had
been amalgamated with the publicly owned
Nova Scotia Power Commission to former
the Nova Scotia Power Company.
CONTACT US
(902) 428-6877
tuftscoveclc@nspower.ca
www.nspower.ca/tuftscoveclc
The new equipment captures waste heat from
the exhaust streams of the two natural gas
combustion turbines, also on the south side of
the property, and uses it to power a new steam
turbine and generator set. This allows us to
generate 25 megawatts of electricity without
any fuel or emissions. A second 25 megawatts
can be generated by adding natural gas directly
into the waste heat stream from the turbines
to increase energy output. It’s a cleaner, more
efficient way to use fossil fuels that acts as a
source of efficient, low-carbon electricity in
Nova Scotia.
WHAT’S UPCOMING?
Here are some things upcoming at the plant:
Noise level assessment
We plan to soon conduct a noise level
assessment throughout nearby sites in the
neighbourhood.
This work will provide a 3D sound model
of the Tufts Cove property and immediate
neighbourhood and help us identify
potential noise concerns so we can take the
right measures to prevent or reduce any
inconveniences to our neighbours
Open House
Later this year we’ll be conducting an open
house event at Tufts Cove. Neighbours and
others will be able to tour the plant and learn
about its operations from NS Power staff. Stay
tuned for more information!