Nova Scotia’s Wind West offshore energy plan wins support from two environmental groups

Nova Scotia’s Wind West offshore energy plan wins support from two environmental groups

A call for bids to build enough offshore turbines to generate five gigawatts of electricity is expected as early as this year.

Two leading environmental groups are giving a thumbs up to Nova Scotia’s ambitious plan to dramatically expand its fledgling offshore wind energy industry.

But both groups were quick to add caveats.

On Monday, Premier Tim Houston said the province’s plan to license enough offshore wind farms to produce five megawatts of electricity would be increased eightfold to 40 megawatts, well beyond the 2.4 megawatts Nova Scotia needs. He called on Ottawa to help cover the costs of his new Wind West project, saying the excess electricity could be used to supply 27 per cent of Canada’