Nova Scotia ‘s Regional Energy and Resource Table is released

The province and federal government will work together to develop the CO₂ storage potential in in Nova Scotia, and to develop and promote carbon management opportunities in the province.

Storage opportunities will focus on near-term onshore projects, under the province’s jurisdiction. Nova Scotia will work with the federal government to develop the regulatory framework for CO2 storage and to ensure projects qualify for the CCUS Investment Tax Credit (ITC).

The two jurisdictions will also work to promote carbon management opportunities in Nova Scotia, including engagement leaders and promoting investment attraction. To further this goal, a CCUS Roadmap for Atlantic Canada is being develop with Net Zero Atlantic.

The federal and provincial governments will collaborate to help ensure an affordable and reliable phase-out of coal by 2030 and to transition to net-zero electricity (expected by 20350.

The Collaboration Framework outlines several potential technologies to be deployed to help achieve these goals including adding additional wind and solar, battery storage, synchronous condensers and flex-fuel fast start generation.

In the short-term, the two jurisdictions will work together to advance the Point Lepreau–Salisbury-Onslow Transmission Line as part of a modified Atlantic Loop connecting Nova Scotia and New Brunswick, with a target in-service date of 2029, as well as other electricity import or export opportunities between the Atlantic provinces and Quebec.

The two jurisdictions will work to accelerate the development of critical minerals in Nova Scotia for export. These overarching goals include enhancing the battery mineral value chain, advancing the circular economy opportunities; and, improve the accessibility, integration and modelling of geoscience data in the province.

In particular, the Nova Scotia is interested in developing lithium to be used in batteries and electric vehicles. The two jurisdictions will cooperate on geoscience research to explore mineral exploration in priorities areas in the province, promote rural economic development opportunities, and identify downstream segments of the value chain.

To advance circular economic opportunities, they will assess barriers in waste management, as well as partnerships with Indigenous partners.

Along with gaps in data, the two jurisdictions will also collaborate to identify workforce gaps and challenges to meet future needs.

Canada and Nova Scotia seek to collaborate on three pillar priorities including: increasing value-added opportunities for the development and use of forest bioproducts; advancing production and use of biofuels and bioenergy; and, supporting the use of mass timber and off-site prefabrication techniques in construction.

To help accomplish these goals, the two will work together to support the development and adoption of transformative technologies, processes, and products in the province, including by-products. As well, they will promote widespread adoption of solid and liquid biofuels, including using modern biomass heating systems in public buildings, for example.

To build off of existing federal and provincial hydrogen development strategies, the two jurisdictions will work to advance green hydrogen production and export opportunities; support domestic use; and, develop a skilled workforce to support the growing industry.

To accomplish these goals, in the short-term, the federal government will help promote the province on an international stage, and evaluate how a regional Atlantic hydrogen hub could improve domestic and export opportunities.

The two jurisdictions will work together to develop codes and standards to blend up to 5% hydrogen into Nova Scotia’s natural gas distribution system by 2025.

Nova Scotia and Canada will collaborate to advance the regulatory frameworks and knowledge necessary to develop the province’s marine renewables industry, including offshore wind.

The four overarching pillars include:

• supporting the province’s position as a leader for offshore wind development;
• supporting grid readiness for offshore wind energy;
• understand provincial needs for ports and related infrastructure; and,
• advancing and growing the tidal industry together.

In addition to passing Bill C-49, the federal and provincial governments will complete and gap analysis to map the funding and regulatory landscapes to understand Nova Scotia’s position and opportunity.

They will also collaborate to identify which ports and related infrastructure in the province can act as key marshalling yards to realize the full potential of the industry in Canada and the US.