Premier Explores Energy Opportunities in New England, Op-Ed

NOTE: The following is an op-ed piece by Premier Darrell Dexter.

This week, I addressed the U.S.- Canada Energy Trade and Technology Conference in Boston, a major event for industry and government leaders in North America.

As the keynote speaker, I promoted the vast renewable energy opportunities available in our province, and outlined Nova Scotia's aggressive targets as set out in the new Renewable Electricity Plan.

I am proud of our goal to generate 25 per cent of the province's electricity from renewable resources like wind, tidal and biomass by 2015, a goal that rises even higher, to 40 per cent by 2020.

These targets are significantly higher than those set in most areas of the United States, are among the most aggressive in the world and are creating an historic shift to stable power costs for families and businesses in Nova Scotia.

I also highlighted the work we are doing with our neighbours in Atlantic Canada to build a stronger and more integrated transmission system, and the benefits that might have for New England.

Nova Scotia is poised to be a significant partner in the Lower Churchill hydro project, a project with the potential of a 180-kilometre sub-sea cable link between Nova Scotia and Newfoundland and Labrador. We also have plans to strengthen the transmission system between Nova Scotia and New Brunswick.

New England is already connected to our offshore natural gas supply through the Maritimes and Northeast pipeline. Now we are investing in making our electricity connections just as seamless, allowing Nova Scotia to be an access point for energy imports and exports between New England and Atlantic Canada.

That could mean transmitting hydro power from Lower Churchill to the United States, or selling renewable energy from our wind and tidal resources when we are generating more here than we need.

By its nature, electricity has no borders. A strong transmission system is the backbone of an integrated electrical system. The more integrated an electricity system is, the more efficiently the system runs for everyone.

That is the message I shared with our friends in New England.

For Nova Scotians, regional collaboration on energy represents good jobs and economic growth, stabilized energy prices, and environmental leadership on a global scale, which is why it’s so important that government and business leaders maximize every opportunity to promote our province's vast potential.

It can only mean good things for everyone involved.