Ottawa pledges $100 million to boost Nova Scotia offshore wind development

In Halifax, Energy Minister Tim Hodgson will announce a $100 million federal commitment to offshore wind in Nova Scotia, joined by Justice Minister Sean Fraser and Premier Tim Houston. A senior source said $5 million will fund a buoy network to measure wind speeds and sea conditions, while $3 million will expand modelling of power transmission to Quebec and Ontario and fund underwater cable surveys. The investment seeks to spur private sector interest ahead of a winter-2027 call for bids on projects such as the province’s Wind West plan, which envisions up to five gigawatts of capacity by 2033.

The provincial government estimates the first phase will cost about $60 billion, with $40 billion for turbines and $20 billion for new transmission lines. Interest has already been expressed by Quebec and Massachusetts for the anticipated electricity output.