The wheels continue to be in motion to develop offshore wind farms in Nova Scotia.
After reviewing the Committee for the Regional Assessment of Offshore Wind Development in Nova Scotia Final Regional Assessment Report to federal and provincial energy ministers submitted on Jan. 23, the province announced on March 14 that working with federal partners, they are proposing five offshore wind energy areas for designation; French Bank, Middle Bank, Sable Island Bank, Sydney Bight and Western/Emerald Bank.
The regional assessment identified eight potential areas for offshore wind development. After further review, the governments shortlisted the list to five. Nova Scotians could provide feedback on the proposed wind energy areas online by April 14.
“Later this year, after areas are designated, the Canada-Nova Scotia Offshore Energy Regulator (CNSOER) will manage a competitive licensing process for developing wind farms. The process will include identifying specific parcels within wind energy areas for development,” said the province in a media release.
The Canada Nova Scotia Offshore Energy Board (CNSOPB) officially became the CNSOER on Jan. 31 after the Canada-Nova Scotia accord acts were amended to expand the board’s mandate to include offshore renewable energy.
On March 6, Jonathan Wilkinson, Minister of Energy and Natural Resources Canada, and Trevor Boudreau, Minister of Energy for Nova Scotia, issued a directive to the CNSOER regarding offshore renewable energy recommendations related to call for bids.
“We understand that work is developing a call for bids process has been underway between officials from our departments and the CNSOER since fall 2023 and that work is progressing well… Governments are finalizing the planning work of the identification of wind energy areas, an important step that will inform government’s objectives for the first call for bids. The next step is for government to issue strategic direction to the CNSOER which will initiate a call for bids and clearly outline government’s expectations for the process,” wrote the ministers in the directive.
The two energy ministers have also given the CNSOER direction to issue an order that prohibits the issuance of submerged land licences (SLL) for the purposes of carrying out offshore renewable energy projects within the Georges Bank Prohibition Area.
“The joint direction for an offshore wind moratorium on Georges Bank demonstrates that we can protect critical habitat and the socio-economic benefits of fisheries while we develop a new significant clean energy resource. Decisions about offshore wind informed by credible and objective data, like this one, ensure a sustainable and inclusive clean energy future is possible,” said Alisdair McLean, CEO, Net Zero Atlantic, in a media release.
The joint direction aligns with the existing Canada and Nova Scotia moratorium on oil and gas activities on the Canadian portion of Georges Bank, which has been in place since 1988, in recognition of the ecological and socio-economic significance of the area.
