Nova Scotia Premier, Prime Minister Discuss Next Steps for Wind West
October 8, 2025
Premier Tim Houston will meet with Tim Hodgson, federal Minister of Energy and Natural Resources, in Ottawa today, October 1, and Prime Minister Mark Carney on Thursday, October 2, to discuss energy security and the economic benefits of the Wind West project.
“Wind West is a project of national significance and has the potential to make Nova Scotia a clean energy superpower and bring jobs and investment to our communities,” said Premier Houston. “It also can help Canada become a global powerhouse and the strongest economy in the G7.”
The Government of Canada has identified Wind West as a nation-building strategy and has committed to working with the Province to develop the project further and help make it a reality.
A strategic plan released by the Province last month outlines how the federal government can make the clean energy project a reality – including reviving the proposed Clean Electricity Investment Tax Credits and confirming access to the Canada Infrastructure Bank’s low-interest financing.
On September 26, the Province introduced the Powering the Offshore Act, which updates legislation related to offshore, tidal energy and the Nova Scotia-New Brunswick intertie. It will help pave the way for clean energy projects, jobs and investments.
Quick Facts:
- offshore wind from Wind West could provide about a quarter of Canada’s total electricity needs
- on September 11, Prime Minister Carney recommended five nation-building projects to the Major Projects Office for approval and included Wind West as an additional project for further development
- mission delegates from the Province include Premier Houston and Nicole LaFosse Parker, Chief of Staff and General Counsel, Premier’s Office
Recent Changes to Nova Scotia Electricity Act Include:
- Changes to the Electricity Act will allow power purchase agreements to keep all options open for using the tremendous resource of Nova Scotia’s offshore wind, including domestic use. Through Wind West, the Province is calling on the federal government to support the transmission infrastructure needed to export most of that energy.
- Another amendment will change the generation facilities section of the Electricity Act, which has been used to designate clean energy projects outside of government procurements. Because supporting too many projects could pose a risk to ratepayers, the amendment will cap energy from these projects at their current volume of 1,140 megawatts so that no new project can be added unless another does not proceed.
- Changes to the Marine Renewable-energy Act will create the ability to merge licences for tidal energy projects. This follows changes made last year that created the ability to split licences. Both changes are based on industry feedback and make the licensing process more responsive to changing business needs.
- Changes to the Public Utilities Act will make it clear that Nova Scotia Power is exempt from municipal taxation and building code requirements for its capital assets – including when the utility co-owns an asset, such as the Nova Scotia-New Brunswick intertie. Municipalities receive payments in lieu of taxes from the utility for all the electricity infrastructure it owns.
