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Powerful makeover
Nova Scotia Power gets approval to turn old generating station into new headquarters
By BILL POWER Business Reporter
Tue. Dec 23 - 10:48 AM



A plan to turn the former generating plant on Lower Water Street in downtown Halifax into Nova Scotia Power’s new corporate head­quarters, and make it a green building, will cost an estimated $53.4 million. (INGRID BULMER / Staff)





NOVA SCOTIA Power received clearance Monday to proceed with an ambitious conversion of its old Lower Water Street generating station into a new corporate headquarters for about 400 workers.

"Redevelopment of the former power plant will be a good thing for downtown Halifax," said power company spokeswoman Margaret Murphy.

Ms. Murphy said a conversion of the old plant into a modern corporate headquarters is the "lowest-cost option" for the utility as it moves out of digs in Barrington Tower at Scotia Square that it has leased since 1971.

The utility intends to begin the conversion on Lower Water Street as early as January and will put up a green building "that meets significant environmental standards," she said.

For example, a new headquarters at the site will include sustainable features such as the use of harbour water for heating and cooling, atriums for natural light and an energy-efficient facade.

In a written decision handed down Monday, the Nova Scotia Utility and Review Board approved the utility’s July application to proceed with the project.

But the board imposed some strict conditions after raising various concerns in an18-page decision. It approved a maximum cost of $53.4 million for the 110,000-square-foot project and said it will be shareholders and not ratepayers who will be responsible for any cost overruns.

The July application pegged the cost at $58.2 million.

Only Emera, the utility’s parent company, may rent space at the renovated site — 24,000 square feet for a 40-year term — "at a rent which reflects the total proportionate cost," says part of the board’s decision.

The utility had sought to rent available space in the complex to offset costs.

Another part of the report questions the power company’s insistence on confidentially filing all submissions about the project to the board.

The board said this course of action impaired its ability to issue a "fully transparent" decision and said the rules governing confidentiality will be the focus of a separate review next year.

The report also questions the wisdom of proceeding with the waterfront plan when the utility could just as easily build a new and less-expensive building outside the downtown core.

Consumer advocate John Merrick said it is significant the board was restrictive about the utility’s role as a developer. "Nova Scotia Power is taking on the role of a property developer, and this should not be a risk for ratepayers," he said.

The power company has said the Lower Water Street plant includes essential components of its infrastructure that link to the provincial power grid.

The revamped property will include six floors of office space and meeting rooms.

Electropolis Studios, one of the region’s premier film production houses, operated out of the location until about one year ago.

The complete board decision can be viewed at www.nsuarb.ca.