Written by Mohammad Ali Raza, Guy Wellard, Miguel de Mello, and Kira McKesey. On October 16, 2025, the Canada-Nova Scotia Offshore Energy Regulator (“CNSOER”) launched the Offshore Wind Call for Information and Prequalification Process which will be open from October 16, 2025, to January 13, 2026, and marks a significant step toward Canada’s first commercial […]
Written by Todd Stanley, KC, Managing Partner in NL, Thomas Munn, Partner in NL and Mohammad Ali Raza, Partner in NS. Recent Developments Our July 2023 article Significant Amendments Announced to the Accord Acts outlined proposed amendments to the Atlantic Accord legislation. Our July 2024 article Significant Amendments Announced to the Accord Acts-Update detailed the […]
Written by Mohammad Ali Raza, Partner and Miguel deMello, Associate in Halifax. The passage of Bill C-49 and amendments to Nova Scotia’s Accord Acts signal a significant opportunity for offshore wind energy investment in the province. As Nova Scotia strives to establish itself as a global leader in offshore wind, understanding how artificial intelligence (AI) can optimize […]
Nova Scotia’s offshore renewable energy sector should benefit from new legislation designed to fast-track developments and to create opportunities for smaller scale, innovative technologies. The Canada-Nova Scotia Offshore Petroleum Resources Accord Implementation Act (Nova Scotia) and the Marine Renewable Energy Act (Nova Scotia) are being amended to streamline regulatory processes in the expectation that faster […]
In response to rapidly growing interest in green hydrogen in Nova Scotia, the Province has passed legislation last week that effectively integrates hydrogen into the province’s legislative system for energy production and transportation.
As Canada forges ahead on its commitment to achieving net-zero emissions by 2050, Atlantic Canada looks poised to play a central role in this transition. To support a highly anticipated green hydrogen industry, Nova Scotia has already set a goal of leasing sites for 5 gigawatts of offshore wind energy by 2030.
The Governments of Canada, Nova Scotia, and Newfoundland and Labrador are seeking public comment on plans for offshore wind development in Atlantic Canada. Over the coming weeks, stakeholders must decide how to best contribute. Here is the important information you need to know.
Nova Scotia has geographic characteristics that make the province attractive for the production of green and renewable energy. The province has committed to drastically reducing its greenhouse gas emissions, and to obtaining 80% of its total electricity from renewable energy by 2030. These commitments necessitate prioritizing renewable energy and green energy projects in the province.
The changes are intended to bring greater clarity to the permitting process and to provide timeframes for approval and notification. Amendments include: greater clarity to language in the Act’s licensing system, clarifying the timelines and processes for incompleteness rejection, approval, and denial of demonstration permits and outlining the Act’s regulatory-making authority to improve administration.
Canada has the world’s longest coastline but, compared to other countries, most notably Norway, our ocean economy — $31.7 billion annually in gross domestic product and almost 300,000 jobs – is relatively under-developed. The federal government wants to change that. The federal Department of Fisheries and Oceans is developing a “blue economy” strategy intended to […]