Provincial release:

Nova Scotia and Canada are investing to seize one of the largest economic development opportunities in generations.

A federal-provincial partnership worth $100 million announced today, October 15, will support the research, data collection and analysis required to advance offshore wind development and help position Nova Scotia as a global clean energy leader.

“Nova Scotia is no longer at the end of the energy transmission line. We are the starting point. Today’s announcement is another important step toward making Nova Scotia a global leader in offshore wind. By working together with the federal government, we are unlocking a generational economic opportunity that will attract investment, create good-paying jobs and strengthen our economy,” said Premier Tim Houston, who is also Minister of Energy. “We aren’t just protecting our own grid, we are powering Canada. This partnership positions Nova Scotia to compete on the world stage while building a cleaner, more prosperous future for our province and future generations.”

Nova Scotia’s offshore winds are among the strongest and most consistent in the world. With growing international demand for clean energy, the province is uniquely positioned to attract billions of dollars in private-sector investment, create thousands of good-paying jobs and build a new renewable energy industry that will generate prosperity for communities from Sydney to Yarmouth.

The federal funding will support collection of critical meteorological, oceanographic and wind-resource information needed to inform future development and reduce risk for investors. The data will strengthen resource assessments, support financial planning, improve project design and help governments, regulators, Indigenous communities and industry make informed decisions as offshore wind development advances.

This work will help lay the foundation for Wind West and support Nova Scotia’s goal of licensing up to five gigawatts of offshore wind energy by 2030. The first phase of offshore wind development has the potential to attract $60 billion in private-sector investment while creating significant opportunities in construction, marine services, ports, manufacturing, engineering, technology and skilled trades.

Offshore wind represents an opportunity to transform Nova Scotia’s economy, strengthen communities, create careers for future generations and establish the province as a clean-energy powerhouse.

“History teaches us that Nova Scotia has always prospered when it has embraced its maritime advantages. The Age of Sail transformed a small Atlantic province into a globally connected trading hub. Today, offshore wind offers the chance to build a similarly transformative industry, creating jobs, attracting investment, strengthening communities and supporting long-term economic growth,” said Premier Houston.

Quotes:

“Nova Scotia’s world-class wind and highly skilled offshore workforce, developed through the legacy of offshore oil and gas, give Canada a competitive advantage in the potentially $1-trillion global offshore wind market, an advantage we are determined to seize. We will unlock Atlantic Canada’s massive potential by accelerating offshore wind development and strengthening Nova Scotia’s position as a supplier of reliable, affordable and clean energy to customers in the province and across Canada.”
Tim Hodgson, federal Minister of Energy and Natural Resources

Quick Facts:

• the Government of Canada is investing $100 million to advance offshore wind development in Nova Scotia
• $5 million will support the deployment of floating light and detection ranging (FLiDAR) buoys to collect offshore wind, weather and ocean condition data
• nearly $3 million is being provided to Net Zero Atlantic to expand modelling of offshore wind electricity transmission to markets beyond Nova Scotia
• the data collected will help inform future offshore wind calls for bids and support investment and development decisions
• early-stage scientific research helps reduce investment risk, supports supply-chain development and strengthens workforce planning

Additional Resources:

Information on Nova Scotia offshore wind: https://novascotia.ca/offshore-wind/