Wind4All

Dear Investors, Supporters and Partners,

We are pleased to announce the successful closing of our 2013 Wind4All Communities Inc. investment raise. The dust is still settling but we believe almost 400 Nova Scotians invested in this years projects for a total raise of 5.5 million dollars. This is a dream come to true for our team. Our CEDIF was over-subscribed and to those who could not invest we apologize. We will keep you informed of future offers.

These projects require skill, commitment, knowledge and experience in order to be delivered. This is not just about wind energy, this is about passion. We can look at new and exciting economic models that keep capital in Nova Scotia and help to build a robust regional economy. We can erect community based wind farms that reduce carbon emissions and increase our energy security. These wind turbines are more than infrastructure developments, they are beacons for a new way of life. We can stride into the future with confidence knowing that we are a part of a growing movement to combat climate change.

Sincerely,

The Wind4All Team

About Us

President’s Message

John Brereton, President, Natural Forces

Since the global financial crisis of 2008 the environmental debate has taken second place to concerns around the economy and the financial system.  In November 2012 the World Bank published a report entitled ‘turning down the heat‘ which contemplated a 4°C rise in a business as usual scenario and the catastrophic consequences of this.

You can be proud that Nova Scotians are showing real leadership in the fight against Climate change.  The Nova Scotia Government has legislated for 25% of electricity to come from renewable sources by 2015 and has set a goal of 40% by 2020.  This shows a real commitment to fighting climate change and is one of the most ambitious targets in Canada.

The environmental, educational and economic benefits of our Wind4All projects are significant, having being awarded 14.9 MW of COMFIT approvals, in addition to having constructed the 4.0 MW Fairmont Wind Farm . I invite you to join us at one of our upcoming seminars where you can hear more about how you can be a part of the solution.

What is Wind4All

Wind4All Inc. is a CEDIF that was established by Natural Forces in 2012 for the purposes of constructing the Fairmont Wind Farm.  155 Nova Scotians invested in the 4.6 MW wind farm located in Antigonish County that is now generating electricity, offsetting carbon dioxide emissions and will expect to yield returns to investors over the next 20 years. Wind4All Communities Inc. is the second in the family of Wind4All companies, established as the qualifying entity for a number of Community Feed-in Tariff wind projects, currently being developed by Natural Forces.

Community Commitment

Wind4All is in committed to leading positive change in Nova Scotia while growing the economy; and being good neighbours, employers, and community builders is part of our commitment.  We consult with local governments and citizens in the communities where we work to identify how best to distribute community benefit funds. Additionally, our COMFIT projects require local community investment – at least twenty five investors from the communities where our farms are located.

We are committed to:

  • hiring locally wherever possible
  • keeping as much economic benefit in the local community as is possible
  • contributing to community projects and organizations
  • working with conservation groups and consultants
  • ongoing monitoring, to ensure that impacts are minimal, and any problems are identified quickly
  • inviting community input, hearing concerns, and responding in a transparent and respectful manner.

Our Structure

The diagram above represents the proposed structure for Wind4All Communities Inc.

Wind4All Team

Natural Forces

  • John Brereton

    Vice President / Director

  • Austen Hughes

    President/Director

  • Andy MacCallum

    Vice President – Development

Assante Hydrostone

  • Assante Hydrostone

    Investor Relations

Investors

  • Investors

    Nova Scotia

Projects

Fairmont

Overview

Fairmont:

Fairmont is a 4.6 MW operational Wind Farm located 6 km North of Antigonish on the Fairmont Road consisting of two Enercon E82 2.3 MW wind turbines. The project was awarded a power purchase agreement in 2008 and completed the permitting process in 2011. With Assante Capital Management acting as the selling agent 155 Nova Scotians invested in the construction of the project via Wind4All Inc. and the project was commissioned in Fall 2012.  $3.5 million of the capital budget were spent with over 20 Nova Scotian companies, many of them from Antigonish and Pictou counties. The project will serve the electricity needs of 1,500 Nova Scotian families over the next 20 years.

 

Fairmont Dividend Issued

 

Gaetz Brook Wind Farm

Overview

The Gaetzbrook Community Wind Farm

Gaetz Brook is a 2.3 MW project in development located on the Eastern Shore some 30 km East of Halifax. The project’s wind resource is expected to take advantage of the strong winds coming off the Atlantic ocean. Natural Forces will partner with Wind4All Communities Inc. for the construction of this project that received COMFIT approval in 2012.

 

Hillside Boularderie Wind Farm

Overview

The Hillside – Boularderie Community Wind Farm

Hillside is a 4.0 MW project in development located on Boularderie island along the shores of the beautiful Bras d’Or lakes. The project is some 16 km North West of Sydney and has been in development since 2011. Natural Forces will partner with Wind4All Communities Inc. for the construction of this project that received COMFIT approval in 2012.

Photo showing SODAR unit at Hillside – Boularderie site location.

 

Aulds Mountain

Overview

Aulds Mountain

Located in Pitcou County on the hills above Merigomish, this 4.6 MW project has been in development since 2011.   Situated some 250 m above sea level the site presents an amazing view of the Northumberland Straight and Price Edward Island.

Barachois

Overview

The Barrachois Community Wind Farm

Barrachois is a 4.0 MW project in development located 16 km due West of Sydney on Cape Breton and has been in development since 2011.

 

 

Why Not

Our Advantage

The Nova Scotia government deserves huge credit for having the foresight to put in place programmes to facilitate Nova Scotians having the opportunity to own wind turbines here in Nova Scotia. With these policies in place it is up to developers like Natural Forces to bring quality investable projects to communities around Nova Scotia that they can have the confidence will be delivered. Our advantage is the more than 30 years of combined wind energy experience our team has in Halifax. Our team has worked on more than 40 completed wind projects across 3 continents.  We are proven here in Nova Scotia having delivered Fairmont Wind Farm for our Wind4All Inc. investors and we will deliver again.

CEDIFs

In 1999, the Province established the Community Economic Development Investment Funds (CEDIFs) to encourage local residents to invest in Nova Scotia businesses. As an incentive, the province offers personal non-refundable tax credits to encourage local investors to participate. The CEDIF program helps to stimulate and keep investment dollars here in Nova Scotia. CEDIFs enable Nova Scotians to invest in wind energy projects that stimulate local economies throughout rural Nova Scotia. The non-refundable tax credits offered to investors in CEDIFs (under the Nova Scotia Equity Tax Credit program) accelerate the pace at which communities develop and implement viable projects. CEDIFS are already encouraging new business development and investment in four separate regions in the province, and the economic, environmental and social benefits are expected to be long-term.

There are several benefits to buying shares in wind energy CEDIFs:
• You receive a 35% non-refundable provincial income tax credit on the amount of your investment
• Your investment is RRSP eligible (in addition to the tax credit)
• You will help to develop local businesses within the community
• You have input into investment decisions made by the fund through the Board of Directors
• You are helping to build Nova Scotia’s renewable energy future here at home.

For more information please log on to http://www.gov.ns.ca/econ/cedif/

Our Siting

Our team in Natural Forces has over 30 years of wind development experience across 7 countries.  We have seen good development and poor development of wind projects and we have seen a spectrum of municipal permitting requirements from the very stringent to the more relaxed.  All of these experiences have formed our approach as being one of engagement with the local community and conservatism in our selection of project sites.  We are all passionate about the benefit wind energy brings both nationally and locally but with that passion comes a responsibility to ensure that our projects are both properly sited and professionally developed – we take that responsibility very seriously.

Our Turbines

The Natural Forces team has been involved with operating many different kinds of wind turbines over the last decade. It is for this reason that we are very cautious about the long term nature of the relationship with the turbine manufacturer of choice in order to protect the CEDIF investor and Natural Forces long term returns. Enercon are a pioneer and world leader in gearless wind turbine technology and have been manufacturing wind turbines since 1984. With over 17,000 wind turbines installed globally they are committed to their customers and offer a comprehensive 12 year maintenance package with their wind turbines.  We are proud to say that we use Enercon wind turbines as it gives us confidence for a long term investment.

Wind Energy

Nova Scotia’s Bountiful Resource

“Nova Scotia has one of the best wind regimes in North America,” said Mr. Parker. “The wind itself is free, and the cost of building wind farms can be spread over many years. The result is a stabilizing effect on electricity rates.”

–   NS Energy Minister Charlie Parker

An infinite source of clean power: Nova Scotia’s bountiful wind resource.
 Wind is powered by the sun. In fact, all renewable energy, and even energy in fossil fuels, ultimately comes from the sun. The sun heats our planet to different temperatures in different places and at different times. This unequal distribution of heat is what creates wind as warm air rises and cooler air descends to fill the void. Wind is the ongoing movement of this air.

So how much wind do we have in Canada? We have more than we could ever use, and it’s free. Our vast landscape, our three windy coastlines, the plains and mountains all contribute to this endless resource. Canada has still only scratched the surface of its massive wind energy potential, which currently powers over 1 million Canadian homes. Tomorrow we hope to do even more. Countries like Denmark already get over 20% of their electricity from wind. If we did the same in Canada, we would have enough wind energy to power 17 million homes! As long as the wind continues to blow, there is a great future in wind energy.

Read up on Dr. David Suzuki’s article on wind power in Canada : 
The Answer is Blowing in the Wind.

Links

World Bank – Turning Up the Heat

Nova Scotia Energy Plan

www.canwea.ca

www.enercon.de

www.assantehydrostone.com

www.naturalforces.ca