The Project
Project Overview
First and foremost, this is a community project. If constructed, the heat network would be owned by the community – either the municipality or a community cooperative – and will not move forward with your support.
The primary aim of the feasibility study is to determine if biomass district energy could reduce heating costs for homes and business in New Glasgow. The study will help the community to understand the economics, decide which areas should be connected, and assess options for biomass sourcing and system ownership.
Biomass district energy is:
LOCAL – Using local biomass fuel means that your Town would not be dependent on imported heating fuels. Instead, the money you spend to heat your home will support your local economy.
AFFORDABLE – Future oil and electricity rates in Nova Scotia are uncertain and expected to rise. Biomass fuel can be secured through long-term contracts, stabilizing and reducing heating costs.
RELIABLE – Existing biomass district energy plants operate with >99% uptime and underground pipes mean that the distribution network is not exposed to the elements, reducing the risk of outages.
CLEAN – Using modern technology, the pollutants released from the bioenergy plant would be about equivalent to one wood stove, reducing air pollution compared to the many oil furnaces replaced.

Our team

As project manager, TorchLight will coordinate all activities, lead community engagements and develop the Masterplan.
TorchLight is Canada’s leading bioenergy consulting and project management firm and has championed bioheat and district energy development across Canada.
Jamie Stephen, Founder and Managing Director, and Jean Blair, Director of Planning and Outreach, are the primary team members for this project.
Jamie Stephen, Founder and Managing Director, and Jean Blair, Director of Planning and Outreach, are the primary team members for this project.

Rathco ENG will lead the engineering design and costing for the district energy network and provide technical input for the Masterplan.
Rathco is a multidisciplinary engineering and planning firm, specializing in district energy. Their team has international best practice experience in district energy including energy generation, distribution, and storage.
John Rathbone, Founder and President, and Mairead Kennedy, Vice President and Network Design Engineer, are the primary team members for this project.
John Rathbone, Founder and President, and Mairead Kennedy, Vice President and Network Design Engineer, are the primary team members for this project.

The Town will support TorchLight and Rathco in the completion of the study and will ensure the plan meets the needs of the community.
As the economic and cultural hub of Pictou County, the Town of New Glasgow is committed to ambitious climate action and was one of Canada’s first municipalities to prepare a climate plan. This plan was recently updated, with district energy playing a central role in decarbonization. The Town has been meeting regularly with TorchLight since fall 2020 to develop a plan to move the feasibility study for a community wide district energy network forward.
The Town of New Glasgow’s financial contribution will go toward the energy and mechanical assessment of buildings to be connected in the initial phase.
The Town of New Glasgow’s financial contribution will go toward the energy and mechanical assessment of buildings to be connected in the initial phase.
Forestry Advisors

The FNSWO will engage with local private woodlot owners to help us understand where biomass might come from and them understand how biomass fits within their sustainable forest management plans.
Founded in 2001, the Federation of Nova Scotia Woodlot Owners (FNSWO) is a province wide, non-profit organization providing forest management, support, and advocacy to Nova Scotia’s small private woodland owners. FNSWO’s members are stewards of woodlands that care deeply about the future and sustainability of the forest and landscape.
Since 2009, the FNSWO has been building a Forest Certification Program for private woodlot owners.
Since 2009, the FNSWO has been building a Forest Certification Program for private woodlot owners.

ACFOR will provide guidance on active forest management in the Acadian forest and advice on biomass supply for the district energy system.
ACFOR Forestry Management offers an alternative solution for woodlot owners who want value from their forest, want to preserve it, and who are struggling between clear-cutting and conservation. ACFOR’s mission is to restore forests, create better, local, renewable energy systems and empower communities for today and tomorrow.
ACFOR’s bioheat projects have led to the replacement of over 700,000 L of heating oil annually with local sustainable wood chips.
ACFOR’s bioheat projects have led to the replacement of over 700,000 L of heating oil annually with local sustainable wood chips.
The Process

Take a Survey
Have your voice heard! Tell us what you know and how you feel about bioheat and
district energy in your community, or about how forests in Nova Scotia are managed.