Canada, Nova Scotia take next steps toward country’s first offshore wind project

Ottawa and Nova Scotia announced the next step toward the country’s first-ever offshore wind project.

Federal and provincial ministers announced that Canada and Nova Scotia took the next step toward the country’s first-ever offshore wind project.

“Now is the time to harness our powerful wind potential, turning it into prosperity and new opportunities for our communities,” said Energy and Natural Resources Minister Tim Hodgson.

Ministers from both governments provided “strategic direction” to the Canada-Nova Scotia Offshore Energy Regulator (CNSOER), said a Saturday news release.

After designating wind energy areas, this represents the next step toward realizing Canada’s first-ever offshore wind project, said the release.

CNSOER will begin a prequalification process to attract investment and get input from the public and Indigenous groups about design and implementation before calling for bids for the designated parcels of land. This will ensure the projects are environmentally responsible and sustainable, said the release.

“In Atlantic Canada, we have the wind, the people and the ambition to lead the clean energy future,” said Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency Minister Sean Fraser. “Now we’re acting on that potential — turning some of the world’s strongest winds into good jobs, new investment and clean, reliable energy our families can count on, not just today, but for our kids and grandkids too.”

Fraser said with the regulator in place the first step toward soliciting bids is a request for information from the regulator.

“There’s some more work to do to identify the specifics of the project,” said Fraser. “Whether that’s the role of the Canada Infrastructure Bank - the certainty around federal investment tax credits that will allow generation capacity to take hold here.”

The first series of projects could roll out in five to 10 years, said Fraser, who admitted it was an ambitious timeline.

Last week, the federal government announced the Major Projects Office (MPO) is strategizing to accelerate “transformative projects of national importance, including Wind West Atlantic Energy.”

The MPO said the proposed project will harness wind resources and deliver clean, reliable power to the region and strengthen both security and the economy and could include other regional projects.

“We’re pleased to get the process underway for the first call for bids so we can harness this tremendous natural resource for the benefit of all Nova Scotians, and we have great confidence in the regulator to lead this work,” said Nova Scotia’s Energy Minister Trevor Boudreau.

“We’re also pleased that our federal partners recognize Wind West as a nation-building project and look forward the next steps to make sure the clean energy from our strong and steady offshore winds is delivered to markets in need.”

The federal government and Nova Scotia manage the offshore wind projects jointly through the Canada-Nova Scotia Accord Acts.

With files by Hafsa Arif.

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