The Municipality of Cumberland aims to attract interest in utilizing geothermal energy from the abandoned mines in Springhill as a provincially funded research project is concluding. In April 2023, a geothermal technical co-ordinator was engaged on a one-year contract, with the funding being extended until April 2026, as per a statement from the Department of Energy.
The co-ordinator conducted research on the potential of geothermal energy in Springhill, Nova Scotia. The town’s disused coal mines are filled with water naturally warmed by the Earth’s core, providing a source of geothermal energy used for heating and cooling various facilities like the community center, parts of the Nova Scotia Community College campus, a fire hall, and local businesses.
Greg Herrett, the chief administrative officer, expressed disappointment that the funding did not continue but mentioned ongoing efforts to identify commercially viable applications for the resource, potentially including a greenhouse or other ventures.
A recent report presented to Cumberland council highlighted opportunities for retrofitting buildings and establishing a commercial geothermal greenhouse in Springhill. The study indicated that a geothermally heated 1,100-square-meter greenhouse could result in a 67% energy savings amounting to about $51,000 annually compared to using electric boilers.
The report suggested that a mine water geothermal greenhouse in Springhill could serve as a pioneering project, potentially driving further mine water geothermal initiatives. The municipality intends to attract business interest for the greenhouse rather than owning it.
Tory Rushton, MLA for Cumberland South and former natural resources minister, emphasized that while the co-ordinator position was not meant to be permanent, it provided valuable data that potential proponents could leverage. Rushton, who is part of a committee exploring ways to harness geothermal energy in the region, highlighted the significance of geothermal energy in renewable resource discussions at the provincial level.
The government of Houston is actively promoting resource development, including onshore natural gas and offshore wind energy, to bolster the province’s finances amid a record deficit of $1.2 billion.
During an open house on fracking held in Amherst, proponents of geothermal energy, like Pugwash-area resident Jennifer Houghtaling, voiced their support, underlining the wealth of research preceding what they perceived as a funding cut. Houghtaling, a Cumberland councillor and committee member, expressed a preference for renewable energy over gas and emphasized the importance of exploring geothermal options further.
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