Nova Scotia Offers 15GW Wind Energy to New England

Nova Scotia is rolling out the welcome mat for offshore wind developers while the U.S. industry hits pause under new federal regulations.

Premier Tim Houston addressed an American offshore wind conference in New York, pitching his province as a stable alternative with consistent winds and predictable regulations. The message was clear: Canada won't create the political headwinds that offshore wind now faces south of the border.

Nova Scotia's Wind West proposal calls for up to 60 gigawatts of offshore wind development, with about 15 gigawatts potentially operational by 2040. The province only needs three gigawatts for itself and plans to export the rest to larger population centers in New England and other Canadian provinces.

Massachusetts has already signed a partnership agreement with Nova Scotia this month. Rhode Island, Connecticut, and Maine are watching closely as the Trump administration moves to revoke permits for several offshore wind projects that were meant to power the region.

The timing couldn't be better for New England. ISO New England projects electricity demand will grow nearly 2% annually through 2034, and offshore wind was supposed to fill much of that gap through four projects off the Massachusetts and Rhode Island coasts.

Two projects are nearly complete, but the other two face existential threats from federal actions. Nova Scotia's stable regulatory environment is looking increasingly attractive as uncertainty grows in U.S. waters.

The Canadian province has a key selling point: its regulatory system requires both provincial and federal approval to overrule the independent energy board's decisions. That creates the predictability investors need when putting billions on the line.

Building cross-border transmission lines will cost an estimated $6 billion to $8 billion, but the infrastructure already exists in other forms. Massachusetts just launched a transmission line last month bringing hydropower from Canada.

The Ripple Effect

This partnership could transform how North America thinks about clean energy cooperation. Massachusetts Energy Commissioner Elizabeth Mahony says diversifying offshore wind sources creates resilience, since Nova Scotian wind farms could supply more energy when Massachusetts farms produce less due to storms or variable wind speeds.

Maine's energy commissioner says the state is "closely tracking" Canadian clean energy development and considering how it might deliver reliable, affordable power. Connecticut officials are interested in seeing the Massachusetts partnership expand.

The collaboration shows how regional cooperation can overcome political obstacles to clean energy progress. While federal policy shifts create uncertainty in one country, neighboring regions can still move forward together on climate goals.

Nova Scotia's message to the offshore wind industry is simple: the winds are strong, the regulations are stable, and the welcome is genuine.