Nova Scotia’s Energy Minister says the province’s Wind West project is gaining momentum across the country as provinces look to expand their electricity capacity.
Trevor Boudreau says Wind West was “talked about quite a bit” during recent meetings with fellow provincial ministers in Charlottetown, and he believes the offshore wind proposal is now being viewed as a project of national significance.
“There’s certainly interest across the country,” Boudreau said. “As the country electrifies, there’s going to be a more need for electrification and more electricity. So Quebec is going to have needs, Ontario is going to have needs. This is a conversation about how can we help meet those needs.”
Wind West is a proposed transmission project that would move offshore wind power from Atlantic Canada through New Brunswick and Quebec, potentially helping supply power to Central Canada or even international markets.
Boudreau said those interprovincial talks are ongoing but have been positive so far. “I haven’t had any negative reaction to the conversations,” he said. “The idea of going through New Brunswick—there’s an opportunity for New Brunswick to tie into that as well.”
He also acknowledged the importance of engaging with the federal government on the transmission infrastructure. “We know and fully expect that we will need to engage the federal government on that as part of the process,” he said.
Asked whether Wind West depends on a pipeline corridor to work, Boudreau emphasized that it’s about electricity, not gas. “Wind West is a lot about the transmission of electrons,” he said. “So it’s less about maybe a pipeline and more about how we’re transmitting it across.”
Boudreau said the project is tied into the broader Atlantic energy vision, which includes coordinating assets and infrastructure across the region. “It’s part of kind of the energy—the Eastern Energy Partnership,” he said. “And part of that is really about what are all the assets that all of the provincial governments have in Atlantic Canada and how do we connect that all together?”
The province plans to launch a competitive licensing round for offshore wind development this fall, and Boudreau said developers are eager. “They know what kind of potential we have on our offshore,” he said. “They’re very excited about the opportunity and what that process is going to look like.”
He also addressed concerns raised by an expert witness at the provincial energy board, who said a proposed interprovincial link between Nova Scotia and New Brunswick could give Nova Scotia Power higher profits than allowed under the Public Utilities Act.
“My expectation is always looking out for the best interest of ratepayers,” Boudreau said. “Now is not the time to increase any rates for ratepayers.”
Boudreau said the energy board will have to review the proposal in detail and ensure the final decision is fair. “Respectfully, it has to be done in a way that’s appropriate for ratepayers,” he said.
The Wind West project is a cornerstone of the province’s offshore wind strategy, which includes a target of generating five gigawatts by 2030. Nova Scotia has identified five offshore areas for development: French Bank, Middle Bank, Sable Island Bank, Western Bank, and Sydney Bight.
