The Government of Canada and the Province of Nova Scotia have designated the first four offshore wind energy areas on Nova Scotia’s offshore to be made available for development.
In a statement, the province and the Government of Canada said that jointly designated the areas of French Bank, Middle Bank and Sable Island Bank off mainland Nova Scotia and Sydney Bight off Cape Breton for eventual wind projects.
The government of Canada noted that this is a “key step” to develop an offshore wind industry that will provide long-term energy security and generational economic benefits for Nova Scotians.
It is poised to create jobs and help communities transition to cleaner, sustainable energy.
“The identification of wind energy areas off the coast of Nova Scotia is a significant step forward towards unlocking our renewable energy potential. We are moving quickly to deliver on our commitment to advance offshore wind, create clean jobs and support our long-term energy security,” said Canada’s minister of energy and natural resources, Tim Hodgson.
The next step in developing offshore wind energy is identifying the parcels within the designated areas that will be included in the first call for bids later this year.
The aim is to license five gigawatts of offshore wind by 2030.
“With some of the top wind speeds in the world, Nova Scotia has the potential to become a clean energy superpower. With the right infrastructure, we’ll have the opportunity to send our wind west to power other parts of Canada. By becoming an energy exporter, we can secure long-term prosperity for Nova Scotians,” added Tim Houston, Nova Scotia Premier.
