The Canada-Nova Scotia Offshore Energy Regulator (CNSOER) has gone on to receive a joint strategic direction from the governments of Canada as well as Nova Scotia in order to formally commence the process to go ahead and issue a call for bids pertaining to first offshore wind project in Canada across the Canada-Nova Scotia offshore area.
Due to the recent designation of certain wind energy areas – WEAs, this happens to represent Canada along with Nova Scotia taking that next formal step when it comes to realizing the first offshore wind project in Canada.
The regulator is now going to execute a prequalification process as well as a call for information in order to attract qualified investments and at the same time offer opportunities for the Indigenous groups, the public, and other stakeholders so as to inform the path that is going to be taken now.
According to the Minister of Energy from Nova Scotia, Trevor Boudreau, offshore wind is indeed a game changer for Nova Scotia, and they are indeed pleased to get the process started for the first call in terms of bids so that they can harness this incredible natural resource for the advantage of all Nova Scotians, and they do have great confidence in the regulator so as to lead this work.
He added that they are also pleased that their federal partners do recognize Wind West as a nation-building project, and they indeed look forward to certain next steps in order to make sure the clean energy from their robust and steady offshore winds gets delivered to the markets that are in need.
It is well to be noted that recently, the Canadian government went on to announce that the Major Projects Office (MPO) is going to advance work pertaining to strategies in order to accelerate transformative projects that are of national importance, and this includes the likes of Wind West Atlantic Energy.
The president of the Privy Council for Canada of the King and the minister who happens to be responsible for the Canada-U.S. Trade, Internal Trade, Intergovernmental Affairs, and One Canadian Economy, Dominic LeBlanc, said that through advancing transformative infrastructure projects such as Wind West Atlantic Energy, the new government in Canada is going ahead and creating jobs, unleashing new economic opportunities, and at the same time, building a robust and a more resilient Canada. The new Major Projects Office of Canada is going to work with the proponents so as to streamline the processes and, at the same time, deliver the infrastructure that their economy requires faster and even more effectively.
Apparently, in July 2025, the government as well as the Province of Nova Scotia went on to designate the first four offshore wind areas that are going to be included in the first call for bids later in the year.
Interestingly, three of the identified areas happen to be located south of the eastern mainland of Nova Scotia, whereas the fourth is situated to the east of Cape Breton Island.
