East Amherst Solar Project
Project Overview
The proposed East Amherst Solar Project is being developed by Natural Forces Solar. The Project is located on the ancestral and unceded territory of the Mi’kmaq people, we acknowledge that working on these lands is a privilege that comes with a great deal of responsibility. The East Amherst Solar Project will have an installed capacity of approximately 5.3 MWAC, comprising approximately 12,700 solar photovoltaic (PV) modules. It is proposed to be located at 530 John Black Road, in the community of East Amherst. The site was chosen as it is the site of an existing wind energy project and is therefore well-understood to pose minimal environmental impacts.
INFORMATION SESSION:
Date: Tuesday, 10 March, 2026
Time: 4:00 PM – 5:30 PM and 6:00 PM – 7:30 PM
Location: Super 8 Amherst, Function Room, 40 Ancestral Drive, Amherst, NS
Project Proponent
Natural Forces Solar is a privately owned renewable energy engineering, procurement, construction, and maintenance company based in Nova Scotia, Canada. Founded in 2019, the company specializes in commercial and utility-scale solar PV, energy storage, and microgrid projects, delivering design-build services to dozens of government institutions, community organizations, private corporations, and First Nations communities. Over the past six years, we have installed more than 90 solar PV systems, with another 10 projects under construction or planned for 2026. Natural Forces Solar’s unique value lies in our management team’s combined six decades of experience owning and operating renewable energy projects, enabling a holistic approach that carefully manages community engagement, permitting, financing, construction, and long-term maintenance risks.
Project Benefits
- Generate about 8,500,000 kWh per year of clean renewable energy, powering the equivalent of 850 homes.
- Create local employment and contracting opportunities during the development, construction, operation, and decommissioning phases of the project.
- Produce emission-free electricity that will increase energy security, displace generation from fossil fuels, and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
- Assist the province in meeting Nova Scotia’s renewable energy target of 80% net zero electricity by 2030.
Environmental Studies
Natural Forces Solar recognize that environmentally and socially responsible development is the cornerstone of a successful project.
Natural Forces Solar engaged Fundy Engineering & Consulting to complete a watercourse and wetland delineation (WWD) review of the project site. Based on the assessment, two portions of unnamed watercourses both believed to be non-fish bearing, have been discovered.
In line with the best practice as described in the Federal and Provincial Order of Preference, we intend to avoid all wetlands and watercourses. If that is not possible, then the impacts will be compensated: in Nova Scotia, there must be compensation at a ratio of 2:1 through the restoration, creation, and/or enhancement of wetland habitat.
Natural Forces Solar also engaged the Special Places (SPP) division of Communities, Culture, Tourism & Heritage to conduct desktop studies for Archaeology, Botany, Geology and Zoololgy.
SPP noted that nearby ponds, lakes and streams increase the archaeological potential and cultural sensitivity. However, no registered archaeology sites exist on the site
SPP found that twelve species of rare plants in the Nova Scotia Museum database have been found within 10 km of the site. However, no plant species at risk appear within the communities and places immediately adjacent to the site. The Fundy Engineering survey also included observations of flora. A total of approximately 57 species were observed, none of which are considered rare. Fundy found that the Atlantic Canada Conservation Data Centre (ACCDC) holds a record of the vulnerable halberd-leaved tearthumb at the site, however no individuals were observed during the delineation work. Natural Forces Solar will conduct a Species at Risk (SAR) survey, including a rare plants survey, to confirm the protection of vulnerable plants.
The SPP report noted that, while endangered monarch butterflies have been observed in the region, the Nova Scotia Museum has no records of animal species at the site or adjacent area. Fundy noted ACCDC records of vulnerable migratory birds and rare arthropods in the vicinity. Natural Forces Solar’s SAR survey will look for fauna such as these to confirm that impacts can be mitigated or avoided.
Finally, SPP noted that no bedrock will be exposed, so encountering paleontology resources is unlikely.
For more information, please contact
Mitchell Van Oosten, Manager of Project Development
community@naturalforces.ca
