Five Areas Proposed for Offshore Wind Farms

March 14, 2025

Identifying suitable areas for offshore wind farms is the next step to safely develop this new clean-energy industry that will create jobs and provide long-term energy security for Nova Scotia.

Working with federal partners, the Province is proposing five wind energy areas for designation after a regional assessment of offshore wind:

• French Bank
• Middle Bank
• Sable Island Bank
• Sydney Bight
• Western/Emerald Bank.

Nova Scotians are welcome to provide feedback on the proposed wind energy areas by April 14. More information is available at: https://novascotia.ca/offshore-wind-energy-areas-engagement/.

Later this year, after areas are designated, the Canada-Nova Scotia Offshore Energy Regulator will manage a competitive licensing process for developing wind farms. The process will include identifying specific parcels within wind energy areas for development.

Quick Facts:

• the federal and provincial governments jointly manage Nova Scotia’s offshore through the Canada-Nova Scotia accord acts
• the governments do this work in regular communication with the Mi’kmaq, fishers, developers, communities and other important partners
• the regional assessment identified eight potential areas for offshore wind development; after further review, the governments shortlisted five to proceed as wind energy areas

Additional Resources:

More information about offshore wind is available at: https://novascotia.ca/offshore-wind/

Offshore wind road map: https://novascotia.ca/offshore-wind/docs/offshore-wind-roadmap-module-2.pdf

Regional assessment of offshore wind: https://iaac-aeic.gc.ca/050/evaluations/proj/83514

Our Climate, Our Future: Nova Scotia’s Climate Change Plan For Clean Growth: https://climatechange.novascotia.ca/sites/default/files/uploads/ns-climate-change-plan.pdf

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