Welcome to the website for the Benjamins Mill Project. This website has been created to provide information to community members, First Nations, government and other stakeholders about the proposed project. Natural Forces is committed to meeting with stakeholders about our projects. Open houses and other community engagement activities are planned for this project and the website will be updated as information is available.

What's New

July, 2021
Natural Forces held an open house at the South West Hants Volunteer Fire Hall on July 19th, 2021. The event was advertised in the Valley Wire, through local homeowner associations and condo boards, our mailing list and on social media. Thank you to all who came out!

Information Presented at Open House
Check out the information presented at our open house with the below links. For more information on future open houses, or to be added to our distribution list for this project, contact Kathleen Funke at kfunke[@]naturalforces.ca

About the project

The proposed project will have an installed capacity of anywhere between 50MW-150MW, meaning approximately 10-24 turbines and could power between an estimated 17,000-50,000 homes.

The project is located in the South West Hants area of Hants County, a few kilometres from Smith's Corner and Smith's Lake.

This wind project is proposed by Natural Forces, an independent power producer based out of Halifax, Nova Scotia. For more information on  Natural Forces, visit www.naturalforces.ca.

Why here?

When developing a wind project, it is crucial to find the best suitable location and community to host it.  To do so, there are four main factors to consider during the site finding phase of development: ​
  • Wind resource
  • Distance to existing electrical and civil infrastructure
  • Environmental sensitivity
  • Socio-economic concerns 
Nova Scotia has excellent wind resources, so generating electricity is feasible in many locations around the province. Factors other than the strength and consistency of the wind must be taken into account when considering a site, such as proximity to the electricity grid, road access, ecology, archaeology, and cultural significance, proximity to residential dwellings, and health concerns.

​The location of the Benjamins Mill Wind Project was selected after a thorough review of all of these factors.

Our process

1. Development - Current Phase
  • Assess the wind resource
  • Survey for environmentally sensitive features 
  • Optimize turbine location to capture the wind efficiently and minimize impact on sensitive features
  • Begin consultation with regulators and the public
  • Conduct and present the Environmental Impact Assessment for environmental approval
  • Apply for road, work and construction permits​
2. Construction​

  • Clear trees for roads and turbine pads
  • Build access roads and pad areas
  • Pour the turbine foundation
  • Assemble the wind turbine
  • Connect to NS Power's electrical grid
​3. Operation​
  • Commission the wind turbines to start producing power
  • Conduct post-construction wildlife monitoring
  • Monitor remotely for real time alerts when additional maintenance is needed
  • Operate for 30 years​
4. Decommission or Retrofit
  • Assess wind turbine after 30 years
  • Decommission wind turbines in 3-6 months
  • Reclaim the site to its former state OR
  • Receive approvals and permits to retrofit the turbine to continue harnessing energy​

Frequently Asked Questions

are wind turbines noisy?
Wind turbines have moving parts and therefore some sound can be expected. However, well-designed wind turbines are generally quiet in operation, and compared to the noise of road traffic, trains, aircraft, and construction activities, the sound from wind turbines is very low. As wind turbine technology has evolved, the sounds emitted have decreased. The further away you are from a project, the less sound it will make. This site will likely have trees and other barriers that would break a lot of the sound before it reaches homes. A typical wind project would have a noise level of between 35-45 decibels. For reference, the compressor of a refrigerator produces 40-45 decibels. (Check out the Energy Nova Scotia Wind Page for more information). Stories of excessive noise often come from areas where the turbines are very close to homes. Natural Forces follows the minimum standards for distance from residences laid out by local regulations, or a typical minimum of 1KM.
How close are the turbines to Residences?
The proposed turbines will be set back at least 1.0 km from all cabins and houses.
Are wind turbines bad for my health?
​A study done by Health Canada in 2014 investigated the health effects of wind turbine noise. This study found that wind turbine noise was not associated with self-reported sleep, illness or stress levels. The summary of these results can be reviewed on the Health Canada Environmental and Workplace Health page and links to additional studies can be found in the following section.
How does Natural Forces get the land?
For this project, Natural Forces leased land from private landowners and has made agreements with the provincial government for Crown land. Over the course of several years, we have developed trusted relationships with the landowners and in all instances the land remains in the ownership of the landowner and is leased for the duration of the project. No land has been leased from unwilling landowners.
can LOCAL COMPANIES take part DURING CONSTRUCTION?
During construction, Natural Forces makes every attempt to hire local contractors, using our in-house construction management company, Natural Forces Construction, to ensure smaller contractors are able to participate. 
Will there be an impact to the environment?
Natural Forces undertakes rigorous environmental impact assessments ahead of construction to determine existing environmental sensitivities and potential impacts on the project to the environment. This information will be reviewed by provincial government officials and will be open for public comment.

More information

For more information, or if you have questions and comments on this project, please contact:
Kathleen Funke
Communications and Government Relations Manager
​kfunke[at]naturalforces.ca
​902-292-2476
Copyright © 2021