BILL NO. 173

(as introduced)

2nd Session, 62nd General Assembly
Nova Scotia
65 Elizabeth II, 2016

Private Member's Bill

Maximizing Economic Opportunities
from the Paris Agreement Act

Andrew Younger
Dartmouth East

First Reading: May 2, 2016

(Explanatory Notes)

Second Reading:

Third Reading:

Clause 1 sets out the short title of this Bill.

Clause 2 amends the Environmental Goals and Sustainable Prosperity Act to require the Government of Nova Scotia,

(a) on or before July 1, 2016, to publish

(i) greenhouse gas emission targets for various sectors in Nova Scotia, which targets must comply with the intent and goals of the Paris Agreement on Climate Change,

(ii) an estimate of the costs and savings in Nova Scotia associated with achieving the targets,

(iii) a detailed plan to achieve the targets, and

(iv) a detailed plan to maximize employment in Nova Scotia in environmental and green energy industries, broken down by various employment sectors; and

(b) on or before November 30, 2016, to introduce legislation to

(i) amend the Environmental Goals and Sustainable Prosperity Act to entrench the greenhouse gas emission targets, and

(ii) implement the plans to achieve the targets and to maximize employment in Nova Scotia in environmental and green energy industries.

Clause 3 requires Nova Scotia Power Incorporated to publish and furnish to the Nova Scotia Utility and Review Board a report listing and providing certain information about each of the electricity generation assets that N.S. Power owns or operates.

Be it enacted by the Governor and Assembly as follows:

3A (1) In this Section, "Paris Agreement" means the Paris Agreement under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change adopted on December 12, 2015, at the 2015 United Nations Climate Change Conference.

(2) On or before July 1, 2016, the Government of the Province shall publish greenhouse gas emission targets for the following sectors in the Province:

(a) the electricity sector;

(b) the transportation sector;

(c) the hospital sector;

(d) the education sector; and

(e) general building infrastructure.

(3) The targets published under subsection (2) must comply with the intent and goals of the Paris Agreement

3B On or before July 1, 2016, the Government of the Province shall publish an estimate of the costs and savings in the Province associated with achieving the targets published under subsection 3A(2).

3C On or before July 1, 2016, the Government of the Province shall publish a detailed plan respecting how the Province will achieve the targets published under subsection 3A(2).

3D (1) On or before July 1, 2016, the Government of the Province shall publish a detailed plan to maximize employment in the Province in environmental and green energy industries.

(2) The plan published under subsection (1) must include an estimate of future job creation by employment sector, including job creation by the following employment sectors:

(a) research;

(b) manufacturing;

(c) installation;

(d) retail;

(e) service; and

(f) information technology.

3E On or before November 30, 2016, the Government of the Province shall introduce legislation to

(a) amend this Act to entrench the targets published under subsection 3A(2); and

(b) implement the plans published under Section 3C and subsection 3D(1).

48A (1) Within thirty days of the end of each fiscal year, Nova Scotia Power Incorporated shall publish and furnish to the Board a report listing all of the electricity generation assets owned or operated by it.

(2) The report published under subsection (1) must include the following information for each asset listed:

(a) the name and location of the asset;

(b) the means by which the asset generates electricity;

(c) the book value of the asset; and

(d) the estimated date on which the asset will cease to be in service.