On June 13, the Senate Standing Committee on Energy, the Environment and Natural Resources held a hearing in Ottawa about Bill C-49 which would expand the mandate of the Canada-Nova Scotia Offshore Petroleum Board to regulate offshore renewables like wind energy.

The federal and provincial governments jointly manage Nova Scotia’s offshore and to allow for offshore wind development, both governments need to amend their respective legislation before the province can issue the first call for bids for offshore wind licences, planned for 2025.

Nova Scotia’s Natural Resources and Renewables Minister Tory Rushton was in Ottawa to speak in favour of the legislation.

Offshore wind is part of the province’s plan to reach net zero by 2050. Most renewable electricity from offshore wind will be used to produce green hydrogen and excess may allow Nova Scotia to become a net exporter of clean energy, noted the provincial government.

Bill C-49 must be passed before Nova Scotia can make the same change in provincial legislation, the Department of Natural Resources and Renewables said.

A delegation from Nova Scotia attended the Senate meeting to show their support for Bill C-49, including Darryl McDonald, CEO of Potlotek Development Corporation, on behalf of Potlotek Chief Wilbert Marshall; Gordon MacDonald, Director of Economic Development with the Municipality of the District of Guysborough; and Richmond Warden Amanda Mombourquette.

Mombourquette talked about why it was important for her to travel to Ottawa to attend the hearing.
The province anticipates that Nova Scotia’s first offshore wind projects will be established between 2030 and 2035.

In the meantime, the province said it is gathering input for the regulation of offshore wind in partnership with the federal government through a regional assessment. The province also released the second module of the Nova Scotia Offshore Wind Roadmap this summer to seek further feedback.