Construction for Phase 2 of the Benjamins Mill Wind Project, also known as the Minas Highlands Wind Project, is scheduled to begin in September 2025. These activities are all on privately owned land and include road building, turbine foundation work, overhead electrical collector line installation, and wind turbine component delivery and erection. Current construction activity updates are provided below.
If you are accessing the lands, please reach out to us at the contact information at the bottom of this page for a safety briefing.
Welcome to the official webpage of the Minas Highland Wind Project!
This website has been developed to share information about the three-turbine Minas Highland Wind Project with rightsholders and stakeholders.
Any Information sessions and community engagement activities planned for this Project would be updated on this website.
Mailing List
About The Project
This project is located in Mi’kmaki, the ancestral territory of the Mi’kmaq. Natural Forces acknowledges that working on these lands is a privilege that comes with a great deal of responsibility.
The Minas Highlands Wind Project (the Project) is the second phase of the Benjamins Mill Wind Project. With three wind turbines, it is located in the West Hants Regional Municipality, 14 km southwest of Windsor, on the same site as the 8-turbine Benjamins Mill Wind Project, which is currently under construction. This phase will consist of three turbines and will be owned by Minas Basin Wind Limited, a joint venture between Natural Forces and Minas Basin Pulp and Power. Together, the partners will develop, construct, operate, and own the Project.
All environmental and municipal permits for the 3-turbine Phase 2 have been secured as part of the permitting of the overall Benjamins Mill Wind Project. Construction will begin for Phase 2 in September 2025 and commercial operation date anticipated in 2026.
Additional information on the Benjamins Mill Wind Project Phase 1 can be found here.
Additional information on future phases of the Benjamins Mill Wind Project can be found here.
Project Map
Below is a map showing both the 8-turbine Phase 1 and the 3-turbine Phase 2 of the Benjamins Mill Wind Project.
Project Timeline
September 2025: Construction activity starts
Who is proposing this project?
This three turbine Project will be owned by Minas Basin Wind Limited, a partnership between Natural Forces and Minas Basin Pulp and Power.
Natural Forces
Natural Forces is an independent power producer that develops, owns, and operates wind, solar, hydro and storage projects. With an extensive portfolio of approximately 300 MW of operational renewable energy projects across Canada and with several ongoing projects at various stages in Ireland and France, the company remains committed to advancing sustainable energy solutions.
Established in 2001, Natural Forces is headquartered in Halifax, Nova Scotia, with regional offices in Ireland and France. The company places a strong emphasis on partnership by working closely with local and Indigenous communities to develop clean energy projects that drive long-term economic and environmental benefits.
As a fully integrated developer and operator of renewable energy assets, Natural Forces manages every stage of project development in-house. This includes site selection, planning, financing, construction, operations, and long-term asset management across various international markets.
Minas Basin Pulp and Power
Minas Basin Pulp and Power is a Nova Scotia-based energy company with a legacy of innovation and sustainability dating back to its founding in 1935 by R.A. Jodrey and partners. The company constructed one of the province’s first hydroelectric plants on the St. Croix River to ensure reliable electricity for affiliated operations in Hantsport. Today, Minas Basin operates two hydro facilities producing a combined 5 MW of clean energy, delivered through its privately held transmission system. Operating under the Minas Energy brand, the company is focused on developing new sources of green energy to support the Scotia Investments family of companies in their transition to a low-carbon economy. Minas Basin is recognized for its leadership in environmental stewardship, infrastructure repurposing, and government collaboration, continuing to set the standard for sustainable energy development in Atlantic Canada.
Why here?
When developing a wind project, it is crucial to find the most 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 proposed Benjamins Mill Wind Project was selected after a thorough review of all of these factors.
Project Benefits
- Provide annual tax revenue to the West Hants Regional Municipality over the life of the Project.
- Create local employment and contracting opportunities during the development, construction, operation, and decommissioning phases of the Project.
- Produce emission-free electricity that will both increase energy security and displace generation from fossil fuels, thereby reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
- Assist the province of Nova Scotia with its energy strategy of developing to be a global leader in clean energy, attract investment, and ensure sustainable development while contributing to Canada’s climate goals.
Stakeholder Engagement
Natural Forces is dedicated to maintaining ongoing engagement with the public, community, stakeholders, and special interest groups throughout the life of the Project. To date, we have engaged through a variety of channels, including newsletters. Below are links to each of the newsletters that have been circulated thus far:
Newsletters
Natural Forces has engaged with, and continues to engage with, stakeholders through a number of avenues, including newsletters. Please click here for all the public consultation material dating from 2020. All newsletters from the Minas Highlands Wind Project Construction period can be found below.
What is the process?
1
Development
- 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
(Current Stage)
- Clear trees for roads and turbine pads
- Build access roads and pad areas
- Pour the turbine foundation
- Assemble the wind turbine
- Connect to the 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 turbines 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
Environmental Impact Assessment
In Nova Scotia, any wind projects that exceed 2 MW in size are required to complete a provincial environmental impact assessment (EIA). During this process, an entire committee made of provincial and federal agencies evaluates the location and overall impact of the project on the surrounding environment and the public. The environmental assessment for the Benjamins Mill Wind Project contemplated a 28 wind turbine project, which requires an EIA. The 3-turbine Minas Highlands Wind Project is made up of three of these locations. As such, information on the EIA studies can be found on the Benjamins Mill project website here.
Frequently Asked Questions
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, to name but a few, 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.
We are doing out due diligence to ensure that this project is developed and sited responsibly. This includes meeting and exceeding the industry setbacks. We have also conducted sound and visual studies that will be validated by a third party. These studies show that, given the worst-case scenario (i.e., climatic conditions, wind in all directions, no obstacles blocking sound and light, etc.), very minimal sound and shadow-flicker is expected to reach the nearest homes.
The turbines are set back over a kilometer from year-round dwellings.
For this project, Natural Forces leases land from private landowners. 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.
At wind speeds above 30m/s (108 km/h), the turbine blades feather to not catch the wind, and the hub rotates the blade, so they are parallel to wind direction. This causes the turbine blades to reduce their speed drastically to ensure no damage is done to the turbines.
Public Safety Message
At Natural Forces, safety is at the core of our operations. Wind energy is a sustainable, environmentally friendly solution, but we understand the importance of maintaining strict safety protocols to protect both people and the environment.
Our safety management systems ensure that all wind farm operations—from installation to maintenance—adhere to the highest industry standards. We provide comprehensive training and safety documentation for all personnel, ensuring that they are well-prepared for working in challenging environments, mitigating risks like high winds, heights, electrical hazards, and machinery operation.
Public safety
We are committed to a culture of safety and, we take proactive measures to ensure that every wind farm is a safe place to work and operate, fostering a sustainable future with minimal risk. With that in mind we also want to protect our communities as well as people who may be visiting our project sites.
Here are few safety items to adhere to when on or visiting our sites;
- Please adhere to posted speed limits (30 km/h in most cases)
- Do not approach wind turbines when service crews are present
- No littering, loitering, dumping of waste ·
- No open fires or camping
- Do not feed, approach, or harass wildlife
- In winter months stay clear of turbines to avoid dangerous ice throw by at least 500 m. Not all sites have ice warning lights so proceed with extreme caution if you must be in the area.
For more details about the project contact:
Meg Morris, Lead Project Manager
902-483-9592
community@naturalforces.ca
