More details released on Houston’s offshore energy plan

While the federal government focuses on nation-building projects, Premier Tim Houston has offered more details on his “Wind West” plan.

The premier says offshore wind fields have the potential to generate up to 66 gigawatts of energy at maximum production, with a conservative estimate of 40 gigawatts each day. The project would cost billions.

“It could be $8 billion, it could be $4 billion—it would depend if it’s overland, depend if it’s subsea,” said Houston when asked for a ballpark figure on the cost of the project. He said there would be more detailed discussions about what the financing arrangements might look like in the future.

As for the preferred option for transmission, Houston said an overland line through New Brunswick into Quebec and then into Ontario would be preferable.

The premier calls the project an incredible opportunity and says he believes the federal government is interested.

“The wind blows a lot here in Nova Scotia,” Houston said. “We actually have some of the fastest offshore wind speeds here in the world. That wind potential is capturing the imaginations of a lot of people across the country.”

In October 2023, the Public Policy Forum released a study saying Sable Island Bank, an ocean area about 180 kilometres south of Nova Scotia, is among the world’s best locations for wind energy generation.

“Here, the North Atlantic winds blow with a strength and consistency,” the report reads, “that could in future make these shallow waters famous for something else: renewable energy.”