Welcome to

Heat New Glasgow

Your information hub for New Glasgow’s biomass district energy study. Find information about the project, keep up to date on activities and look for opportunities to get involved. Click here for the latest news and updates.

Affordable
Low carbon
community heat


A Feasibility Study

Biomass district heating systems use wood chips or other biomass to efficiently produce heat, and sometimes also power, in a central plant. Heat is distributed to buildings through insulated underground water pipes.

In line with the Town of New Glasgow’s Climate Action Plan, TorchLight Bioresources has been awarded funding to carry out a feasibility study for a community-wide biomass and wind powered district energy network in collaboration with the Town.

The district energy network could eventually connect to more than 90% of the buildings in the Town of New Glasgow and would be owned by the community, providing affordable, reliable, low carbon heat while supporting a vibrant rural economy.

Biomass district energy is a proven approach to decarbonization that could put the community of New Glasgow into the driver’s seat on the road to net zero emissions while reducing energy poverty.

With biomass district energy New Glasgow could also:

  • Create local jobs
  • Stabilize energy prices
  • Increase energy security
  • Improve energy system resilience
  • Support rural economies
  • Support the local forest sector

LEARN MORE ABOUT THE PROJECT

LEARN MORE ABOUT BIOMASS DISTRICT ENERGY

Fill out A Questionnaire

To better estimate the cost to connect homes in New Glasgow to a district heating network, it is helpful to understand the existing heating systems and heat demand in buildings in Town.

Please take 5 minutes to fill out our questionnaire if you live or own a building in New Glasgow.

News & updates


Congratulations to the Town of New Glasgow!

Videos


Collaborators


Collaborators will work together with you, the community, to design a heating system that is affordable, reliable, efficient and supports the local economy while also reducing emissions. Learn more about our team here.

Forestry Advisors


Our forestry advisors will provide recommendations on biomass sourcing and forest management.

"Transforming the way communities produce and use energy is key to building a prosperous economy that is aligned with our climate objectives. [This project] represents our government’s commitment to collaborating with and investing in communities in pursuit of these goals."      The Honourable Jonathan Wilkinson, Minister of Natural Resources

"By building a district energy system, we are delivering on our commitment to delivering clean, affordable energy to Canadians, while supporting good jobs in Nova Scotia's sustainable forestry sector.” The Honourable Sean Fraser, Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship, and Member of Parliament for Central Nova

"District energy systems are proven to provide significant local economic and community resiliency benefits and we are eager to work with the Town of New Glasgow to design a system that maximizes these benefits for New Glaswegians."    Jamie Stephen, Managing Director, TorchLight Bioresources

"Decarbonizing heating is essential to reducing greenhouse gas emissions. This project is an exciting opportunity to explore a low carbon pathway for community heating, and to meaningfully address energy poverty through a reliable pricing model."    Nancy Dicks, Mayor, Town of New Glasgow

This project is made possible with funding from the Government of Canada.