On September 10, 2024, the Honourable Tory Rushton, Nova Scotia’s Minister of Natural Resources and Renewables introduced the Advancing Nova Scotia Opportunities Act (Bill 471), an omnibus Bill to make several legislative changes including several specific to the energy sector.

The legislation, which received Royal Assent on September 20th, made significant changes to enable the development of offshore wind and other offshore renewable energies, and encourage development of Nova Scotia’s hydrogen for domestic use.

Highlights of the energy-related changes include:

  • Amendments to the Canada-Nova Scotia Offshore Petroleum Resources Accord Implementation (Nova Scotia) Act, to expand the mandate of the Canada-Nova Scotia Offshore Petroleum Board to include regulating offshore renewable energy projects and offshore transmission lines.
  • Amendments to the Marine Renewable-energy Act, to help speed up offshore wind developments; and,
  • Amendments to the Gas Distribution Act, to enable investments in low-carbon fuels such as hydrogen and renewable natural gas in the province’s natural gas grid.

Offshore wind development

For changes to encourage offshore energy developments, the provincial government still plans to open a call for bids in 2025 to develop 5 GW of offshore wind. To help remain on this timeline, the province is aligning its legislation with changes proposed by the federal government in Bill C-49. Nova Scotia’s amendments alone will not allow the province to develop the offshore wind industry on its own but provides a “different pathway forward to pursue this industry in jointly managed waters” in case the similar federal legislation does not receive Royal Assent before the province issues its call for bids in 2025.

In support of Bill 471, Elisa Obermann, Executive Director of Marine Renewables Canada, stated:

“This legislation is an important signal to industry that Nova Scotia is dedicated to meeting its timelines for offshore wind development by advancing commitments to amend the Accord Act and offering an alternate path for development of wind in offshore areas if federal legislation is delayed.”

Greening natural gas

Changes to the Gas Distribution Act would allow Eastward Energy, Nova Scotia’s natural gas delivery system franchise holder, to apply to the Nova Scotia Utility and Review Board for the ability to provide alternative or blended gases, build and operation hydrogen-production equipment, and recover applicable approved costs.

Eastward Energy was recently approved to start blending up to 5% hydrogen into Halifax’s natural gas grid as early as 2026. This change would help the utility reduce the carbon intensity of the natural gas it supplies.

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