Formal Opposition to the Salt Springs Natural Gas Power Generation Facility Project

To Whom It May Concern,

I am writing as a resident of Lovat Road in Salt Springs (The Hollow) to formally register my opposition to the proposed Fast Acting Natural Gas Power Generation Facilities (PIDs 00851287, 65049983, 00846311, and 65177198).

As a homeowner whose property is  adjacent to the project area, I am deeply concerned by the lack of localized data regarding the long-term impacts on our community’s water security, air quality, and the fundamental rural character of Salt Springs.

1. Water Security and Aquifer Depletion

The proposal indicates a water requirement equivalent to 750 households (approx. 330,000 liters per day). My property, and those of my neighbors, relies entirely on private wells tapping into a shared bedrock aquifer.

The Omission: The Environmental Assessment Registration Document (p. 51, 120) admits that a comprehensive hydrogeological field study has been deferred to the permitting stage. It is scientifically irresponsible to grant environmental approval before determining the "Zone of Influence" of such a massive industrial draw.

The Risk: Without this data, there is no guarantee against "drawdown," which would leave residential wells dry, or "upconing," which could draw salinity into our fresh water supply—a known risk in the Salt Springs geological formation. I demand that a multi-season hydrogeological study be completed and made public before any approvals are considered.

2. Contradiction of Rural Character

The residents of Salt Springs have consciously chosen a lifestyle defined by peace, low light pollution, and a connection to the natural environment. This project introduces a 24/7 industrial footprint that is fundamentally incompatible with a rural residential zone.

Noise and Light: The "fast-acting" nature of these turbines creates sudden, high-decibel noise events and low-frequency vibrations. Combined with the 100-foot exhaust stacks and industrial security lighting, the tranquil nature of Lovat Road and the surrounding valley will be permanently degraded.

Safety and Traffic: Storing 9 million liters of diesel fuel in a rural area poses an unacceptable risk to the West River watershed and introduces heavy industrial traffic to roads designed for local use.

3. Economic and Environmental Inconsistency

While the proponent highlights a 30–50 year lifespan, the project offers only 10–15 permanent jobs, providing negligible economic benefit to the local community in exchange for the significant depreciation of our property values. Furthermore, locking Nova Scotia into fossil fuel infrastructure until 2060–2075 directly contradicts the province’s own stated goals of achieving net-zero by 2035.

Conclusion

The "The Hollow" is more than a property; it is a sanctuary built on the promise of a quiet, rural life. This project threatens the very water we drink and the air we breathe without providing sufficient evidence that these impacts can be mitigated.

I request that the Minister of Environment and Climate Change reject this proposal or, at minimum, require a Type II Environmental Assessment that includes independent, third-party verification of the aquifer’s capacity to sustain both industrial use and the existing residential community.

Sincerely,

T. Skelton

The Hollow,

661 Lovat Road, Salt Springs, NS