Five Areas Proposed for Offshore Wind Farms

Press Release

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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