Nova Scotia passes legislation to advance clean energy projects

The federal government is backing Nova Scotia’s Wind West project, which is expected to grow the economy.

Nova Scotia introduced legislation to pave the way for clean energy projects Friday.

The Powering the Offshore Act updates legislation for offshore wind, tidal energy and the Nova Scotia-New Brunswick intertie, said a Friday news release.

“This means good jobs, stronger communities and more opportunities right here at home,” said Energy Minister Trevor Boudreau. “And it means we can pay for the investment our province needs in areas like healthcare, highways and homes.”

Boudreau said the province is on track to get off coal-fired power by 2030.

The act changes energy legislation in the following ways:

• Electricity Act changes keep options open by allowing power purchase agreements. The province called for federal support to build transmission infrastructure to export most of the energy.
• An amendment caps energy from the projects at 1,140 megawatts so that new projects cannot be added unless another does not proceed.
• Changes to the Marine Renewable-energy Act allow licence mergers for tidal energy projects after allowing the ability to split licenses last year. “Both changes are based on industry feedback and make the licensing process more responsive to changing business needs,” said the release.
• Nova Scotia Power is exempt from municipal taxation and building code requirements for capital assets, including co-owned projects such as the Nova Scotia-New Brunswick intertie. Municipalities receive payments from the utility for its energy infrastructure in lieu of taxes.

The Canada-Nova Scotia Offshore Energy Regulator is entering the first licensing phase produce 62 gigawatts of clean energy.

Claudia Chender, leader of the NDP, raised concerns about the exportation of power.

“It seems ludicrous that we would build out infrastructure and not allow Nova Scotians to benefit,” she said. “We are in a moment right now where 64 per cent of Nova Scotians say they don’t see a bright financial future for themselves.”

Derek Mombourquette, interim leader for the Liberals, also said Nova Scotians need to “directly benefit” from offshore and onshore wind.

-With files from CTV News Atlantic’s Jesse Thomas

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