logo
Nova Scotia's ambitious 'Wind West' offshore energy plan gets support with conditions

Nova Scotia's ambitious 'Wind West' offshore energy plan gets support with conditions

Two leading environmental groups are giving a thumbs up to Nova Scotia's ambitious plan to dramatically expand its fledgling offshore wind energy industry.
But both groups were quick to add caveats.
On Monday, Premier Tim Houston said the province's plan to license enough offshore wind farms to produce five gigawatts of electricity would be increased eightfold to 40 gigawatts, well beyond the 2.4 gigawatts Nova Scotia needs. He called on Ottawa to help cover the costs of his new Wind West project, saying the excess electricity could be used to supply 27 per cent of Canada's total demand.
"Nova Scotia is on the edge of a clean energy breakthrough," the Progressive Conservative premier said in an online video, adding the province is poised to become an "energy superpower."
Gretchen Fitzgerald, executive director of Sierra Club Canada, said the premier's bold plan, which includes building transmission lines across the country, represents an exciting opportunity for the province.
"It could be a game-changer for the region and for Canada," she said in an interview from Ottawa. "But it needs to be done correctly and with consultations."
Fitzgerald said the Nova Scotia and Canadian governments must focus on securing long-term benefits from the nascent offshore wind industry because they did a poor job on that front when dealing with the offshore oil and gas sector.
"We have to make sure that we are not selling out what is a massive resource for less benefit than communities should have," Fitzgerald said, adding that Nova Scotia continues to suffer from a high rate of energy poverty. In May of this year, utility affordability expert Roger Colton produced a report showing that 43 per cent of Nova Scotians were struggling to pay their energy bills — the highest proportion in Canada.
While Fitzgerald applauded Houston's clean energy plan, she criticized what she described as the premier's populist penchant for taking decisive action before consulting with experts and the public.
"Moving from a couple hundred turbines to thousands in the next decade needs to be done in a staged way so we learn how to do this right," she said, adding Houston appears to have adopted a "'move-fast-and-break-things mentality."
"(That) can lead to unacceptable harm to sensitive ocean life," she said. "From a community benefits and acceptance point of view, breaking trust can be the biggest barrier to getting to good climate solutions."
In October 2023, the Public Policy Forum released a study saying Sable Island Bank, an ocean area about 180 kilometres south of Nova Scotia, is among the world's best locations for wind energy generation.
"It and several other similarly endowed areas off the coast of Atlantic Canada hold the potential to place the region among the leading global hubs of offshore wind-powered energy development," says the report from the independent non-profit think tank.
It goes on to say that as the world shifts from a dependence on fossil fuels to forms of energy that do not emit climate-changing greenhouse gases, Atlantic Canada is facing "a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity ... to recover an economic vitality comparable to the Age of Sail — fittingly built again on the power of wind at sea."
The report says the installation of 15 gigawatts of offshore wind generation would create about 30,000 direct jobs annually.
Despite the hype, the industry must also earn acceptance from Nova Scotia's fishing industry, which in 2023 contributed $2.5 billion to the province's economy and employed 19,000 people.
In Halifax, a spokesman for the Ecology Action Centre called on the provincial government to build public trust, especially with coastal communities.
"There really needs to be a priority on stakeholder engagement for all ocean users," said senior energy co-ordinator Thomas Arnason McNeil.
"We're going to need to prioritize ecological safeguards and preserve the existing livelihoods that we have. That includes the fishing industry. That's half the economy in Nova Scotia."
Still, he said the province's big push for clean energy is on the right track, especially when it comes to building out its electricity grid to better connect with the rest of the country.
If done right, the payoff would be enormous, Arnason McNeil said.
"We're talking serious job creation here and a lot of revenue potentially," he said. "The bottom line is that you have to do this right. (But) the prize at the end of the road is monumental in terms of the benefits."
A call for bids to build enough offshore turbines to generate five gigawatts of electricity is expected as early as this year.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 8, 2025.

Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Canada plans huge boost in defence spending to hit NATO target by year's end, Carney says
Canada plans huge boost in defence spending to hit NATO target by year's end, Carney says

Toronto Star

timean hour ago

  • Toronto Star

Canada plans huge boost in defence spending to hit NATO target by year's end, Carney says

OTTAWA — The federal government pledged Monday to aggressively crank up Canada's defence spending to hit the country's commitment to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) before the end of year — a commitment that will cost billions of dollars to reach the target five years faster than Prime Minister Mark Carney promised during this spring's federal election campaign. Declaring Canada faces a 'darker, more competitive world,' Carney made the new promise in a speech at the University of Toronto's Munk School of Global Affairs. Painting a picture of increasing dangers and threats to Canadian security, Carney argued the country must move quickly to bolster its military, which he said has fallen behind with aging equipment as Canada became too reliant on the United States.

EDC supported more than 27,800 businesses and facilitated more than $123 billion intrade-related activities Français
EDC supported more than 27,800 businesses and facilitated more than $123 billion intrade-related activities Français

Cision Canada

timean hour ago

  • Cision Canada

EDC supported more than 27,800 businesses and facilitated more than $123 billion intrade-related activities Français

OTTAWA, ON, June 9, 2025 /CNW/ - Today, Export Development Canada (EDC) released its 2024 Integrated Annual Report, highlighting how the organization helped its customers grow their business beyond Canada to seize the vast trade opportunities that await them in the global marketplace. The report is complemented by additional environmental, social and governance (ESG) disclosures: 2024 Climate-Related Disclosure, and the 2024 Sustainable Bond Impact Report. In 2024, exporters faced a complex and rapidly evolving economic environment. During this period, EDC expanded its presence in key Indo-Pacific markets to support the trade diversification of Canadian exporters. EDC invested in medium-sized Canadian exporters, sharpening its focus on priority sectors, and maintained a strong commitment to sustainable and responsible business practices. "In 2024, global economic softness weighed on Canadian exporters. Slow domestic growth, higher-for-longer interest rates and slowing labour markets strained the economic outlook in many countries," said Alison Nankivell, EDC's President and CEO. "Those challenges, coupled with new market uncertainties towards the end of the year, have energized our customers to transition from continental to global traders as we strive to make it easier for them to secure new international business opportunities. This renewed interest in trade diversification and EDC's solutions have increased since the start of this year given the evolving nature of U.S. trade policies, and we're stepping up to support them." In 2024, EDC supported more than 27,800 customers with financial and knowledge solutions, with the vast majority being small and medium-sized businesses. We facilitated a total of $123.4 billion in exports, foreign investment and trade development activities, including $23.4 billion in business in emerging markets. This support contributed to over 475,800 domestic jobs and helped to generate $87 billion of Canada's GDP. "During an uncertain economic environment, we strategically deployed capital and took on risk to help more Canadian companies reach global markets—and we are continuing to do so in response to the current climate," said Scott Moore, EDC's Executive Vice-President and Chief Financial Officer. "We're motivated by findings that Canadian companies supported by EDC generate 23% more revenues, employ 16% more workers and are 6% more productive, according to our latest study with Statistics Canada." In 2024, EDC's net income increased to $915 million from $450 million in 2023. This was driven by higher net revenue, combined with unrealized gains on financial instruments carried at fair value. Our growing presence in the Indo-Pacific In 2024, EDC added three new representations in the Indo-Pacific, increasing the total number of representations to 11 in the region, including its Singapore branch. EDC opened representations in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, Manila, Philippines, and most recently, Bangkok, Thailand (in 2025) to offer in-market support to attract more Canadian companies to the booming region and help them navigate local market complexities. EDC supported 1,529 customers and facilitated $13 billion in business volumes in the Indo-Pacific region in 2024. It also signed memorandums of understanding with several export credit agencies and market leaders to enable strong market access for Canadian exporters. Our support for Canada's medium-sized exporters and key sectors In 2024, we continued our strategic objective to support the international growth of Canada's medium-sized companies. In 2024, we served 1,175 medium-sized Canadian companies across our financial solutions. EDC is focusing on Canadian sectors that provide net-new growth for Canada, namely agri-food, critical minerals, the energy transition, advanced manufacturing and digital industries. Its goal is to highlight Canada's strengths on the global stage and improve trade competitiveness. For example, in the agri-food sector, EDC served 3,201 customers throughout the year, facilitating $21.7 billion in business. As a leading financier of Canada's cleantech industry, EDC served 500 cleantech customers in 2024, enabling $9.7 billion in business facilitated. Our commitment to responsible business Throughout the year, EDC maintained its commitment to responsible business. In 2024, we issued our sixth green bond valued at US$ 1 billion, helping to further attract capital for climate-focused investment and support for projects that generate positive environmental outcomes. Additionally, we deployed $1.3 billion in financing for 56 renewable energy projects. Through our inclusive trade efforts, we offered targeted support for Canadian companies owned by members of equity-seeking groups, focusing on companies owned by women and Indigenous people. This effort served 3,816 financial and non-financial customers and facilitated $2.5 billion in business and trade activities. For more information, read the 2024 Integrated Annual Report and the suite of supplemental ESG reports. Export Development Canada (EDC) is a financial Crown corporation dedicated to helping Canadian businesses make an impact at home and abroad. EDC has the financial products and knowledge Canadian companies need to confidently enter new markets, reduce financial risk and grow their business as they go from local to global. Together, EDC and Canadian companies are building a more prosperous, stronger and sustainable economy for all Canadians.

Canada's new government is rebuilding, rearming, and reinvesting in the Canadian Armed Forces Français
Canada's new government is rebuilding, rearming, and reinvesting in the Canadian Armed Forces Français

Cision Canada

timean hour ago

  • Cision Canada

Canada's new government is rebuilding, rearming, and reinvesting in the Canadian Armed Forces Français

TORONTO, June 9, 2025 /CNW/ - In an increasingly dangerous and divided world, Canada must be prepared – to defend our people and our values, to secure our sovereignty, and to protect our Allies. We must be prepared to lead and to shape a more stable and prosperous world. This entails government recognizing our new realities and investing in the measures required to meet this moment. Today, the Prime Minister, Mark Carney, announced that Canada's new government is rebuilding, rearming, and reinvesting in the Canadian Armed Forces. With this increase, Canada will achieve NATO's 2 per cent target this year – half a decade ahead of schedule – and further accelerate our investments in years to follow, consistent with our security imperatives. The investment for 2025-26 will be over $9 billion. Measures in this plan include: Better pay for Canadian Armed Forces, improved recruitment and retention, and investments to support operational readiness, fleet maintenance, security, and infrastructure requirements. New aircraft, armed vehicles, and ammunition, as well as support for projects currently underway. Developing new drones and sensors to monitor the seafloor and the Arctic. Repairing and maintaining existing ships, aircraft, and other assets. More health care funding and staff for Armed Forces personnel. Expanding the reach, security mandate, and abilities of the Canadian Coast Guard and integrating it into our NATO defence capabilities – to better secure our sovereignty and expand maritime surveillance. Bolstering Canada's defence industrial capacity. Building capacity in artificial intelligence, cyber, quantum, and space. Modern and secure digital infrastructure. The plan will support key capabilities, including: Arctic Over-the-Horizon Radar Joint Counter-Drone Program Joint Support Ships Long-range precision strike capability Increased domestic ammunition production Additional logistics utility vehicles, light utility vehicles, and armoured vehicles This government will also undertake efforts to support veterans, including modernizing the benefits system so veterans get supports sooner, streamlining military trade credentials in the civilian sectors, and improving health services for women veterans. Canada requires these capabilities to uphold and assert its sovereignty and ensure our defence never becomes dependent on others again. As we strengthen the Canadian Armed Forces, we will also build up Canadian industry, driving innovation and creating good careers for Canadian workers and new opportunities for Canadian businesses. Now more than ever, we need to defend our sovereignty and safeguard Canada's people and interests. Quotes "In an increasingly dangerous and divided world, Canada must assert its sovereignty. We will rapidly procure new equipment and technology, build our defence industrial capacity, and meet our NATO defence commitment this year. Canada will seize this opportunity with urgency and determination." — The Rt. Hon. Mark Carney, Prime Minister of Canada "For generations, Canadians have served our country with honour, and today, we renew our promise to stand behind them. We are equipping our Armed Forces with the capabilities and support they need to protect Canadians and uphold our commitments around the world. This historic investment will strengthen our sovereignty and invest in the Canadian economy – growing a world-class defence industry that fuels innovation and job creation." — The Hon. , Minister of National Defence

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into the world of global news and events? Download our app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store