Until Jan. 13, 2026, the Canada-Nova Scotia Offshore Energy Regulator (CNSOER) will be receiving feedback on three wind energy areas being considered for offshore wind development in Nova Scotia waters — Sydney Bight, Middle Bank and French Bank — and the location(s) of potential parcel(s) within those Wind Energy Areas (WEA).
The feedback is being sought as part of the CNSOER offshore wind Call for Information NS25-1R and Prequalification NS25-1R, announced Oct 16.
The CNSOER invites Indigenous groups and rights holders, the fishing sector, industry, government, the public, and other stakeholders to also provide their feedback on the possible evaluation criteria to be used as part of the Call for Bids process, the possible draft terms and conditions for a submerged land licence and other items noted in the online form, including co-existence and considerations for fisheries’ compensation.
“The coexistence of the offshore wind industry with existing sectors as well as the continuance of existing activities of ocean users, including the commercial fishing and seafood sectors, are guiding principles for advancing offshore wind in Canada. Nonetheless, there is recognition that future offshore wind development may result in potential impacts to existing ocean users. The CNSOER is seeking feedback on behalf of governments on the considerations for fisheries’ compensation. Governments are developing an approach to fisheries’ compensation based on the feedback we receive,” said the CNSOER.
For offshore wind Call for Information NS25-1R and when considering parcels for a first offshore wind Call for Bids, the CNSOER is focusing its efforts on Sydney Bight, Middle Bank and French Bank.
“The Sydney Bight WEA is relatively close to shore, existing grid infrastructure, and port facilities along the northeastern coast of Cape Breton. The Sydney Bight WEA possesses depths and geological conditions potentially suitable for fixed-bottom or floating offshore wind development and is 25 km from shore at its nearest point. This WEA is intersected by two ferry routes that transit between Nova Scotia and Newfoundland and Labrador; the constitutionally mandated North Sydney (N.S.) to Port aux Basques (N.L.) route and the North Sydney (N.S.) to Argentia (N.L.) route,” said the CNSOER.
The CNSOER will consider specific details for Sydney Bight including: at least one parcel should be identified in Sydney Bight; parcel identification should focus on areas within the WEA that are technically suitable for fixed-bottom offshore wind development; and the parcel should be large enough to accommodate a project with a generating capacity up to 500 MW.
“The Middle Bank WEA is located roughly 60 km from shore at its closest point and roughly 120 km from the port of Port Hawkesbury. Based on available data, this area has suitable water depths and surficial geology for offshore wind development, in particular fixed-bottom offshore wind projects, and lies adjacent to a decommissioned pipeline route,” described the CNSOER.
For Middle Bank, the CNSOER will consider specific details including identifying at least two parcels that should each be large enough to accommodate projects with generating capacities of up 1,000 MW (2,000 MW total initially, with the potential for additional capacity to be considered upon review.)
“The French Bank WEA is roughly 33 km from the community of Goldboro and 65 km from the port of Sheet Harbour. At its nearest point it is located 20 km from shore and the entire French Bank WEA has water depths greater than 70 m. A decommissioned pipeline route transects this WEA and terminates in the Sable Island Bank WEA,” the CNSOER said.
For French Bank, the CNSOER will consider specific details including identifying at least one parcel that should focus on areas within the WEA that are technically suitable for floating offshore wind development. The parcel should leave a buffer on either side of the existing, but abandoned, pipeline corridor that runs through the WEA. The parcel should be large enough in spatial area to accommodate a project with a generating capacity of up to 500 MW.
The offshore wind Prequalification NS25-1R is also open for 90 days, from Oct. 16 to Jan. 13, 2026.
“The purpose of the offshore wind Prequalification process is to review and identify eligible companies that can participate in the next offshore wind Call for Bids. Interested companies will be required to submit information via an online form to demonstrate how they meet the prequalification requirements. Only companies who are prequalified by the CNSOER will be eligible to bid on a parcel(s) in the next offshore wind Call for Bid,” said the CNSOER.
The CNSOER will be hosting a virtual public information webinar on Nov. 25 from 11 a.m. to 12 p.m. AST.
“The purpose of the virtual public information webinar is to share details about the offshore wind Call for Information NS25-1R with Indigenous groups and rights holders, the fishing sector, industry, government, the public and other stakeholders. Attendees will have an opportunity to ask questions of CNSOER staff during the webinar and provide comment on the above information the CNSOER is seeking feedback on. Advance registration is required.”
After the offshore wind Call for Information NS25-1R closes on Jan. 13, all feedback collected through public written comments, the virtual public information webinar, and parcel identification will be reviewed prior to the CNSOER making offshore renewable energy recommendations to the Ministers to make an offshore wind Call for Bids and the terms and conditions of a submerged land licence.
“To ensure the offshore wind Call for Information NS25-1R period is fair and transparent, once the public engagement period closes, we will review all information submitted, and we will post written feedback we receive on this web page and in a public What We Heard report” with the exception of comments that are confidential in nature or those that have requested their comments not be shared publicly, said the CNSOER.
More detailed information on the feedback the CNSOER is seeking, to submit feedback, or to register for the webinar is available on the CNSOER website https://cnsoer.ca/.
