Environmental Protection, Regulatory Frameworks, and Sustainable Growth
Author(s): Scott Douglas Jacobsen
Publication (Outlet/Website): The Good Men Project
Publication Date (yyyy/mm/dd): 2025/04/17
Natural Resources Canada is committed to improving the quality of life of Canadians by ensuring the country’s abundant natural resources are developed sustainably, competitively and inclusively. The Canadian government is advancing offshore wind energy through strategic planning and regulatory frameworks. Natural Resources Canada discusses focusing on environmental protection, project timelines, and regulatory challenges. The Regional Assessment Committees for Nova Scotia and Newfoundland and Labrador have submitted final reports outlining recommendations for responsible offshore wind development. Legislative amendments and regulatory updates under the Accord Acts are establishing frameworks for offshore renewable energy. Canada’s membership in the Global Offshore Wind Alliance highlights its commitment to clean energy. Drawing from offshore oil and gas expertise, Canada is streamlining offshore wind projects. Collaboration with industry stakeholders, Indigenous groups, and investors is key to expanding this sector. The government continues to engage industry to ensure sustainable development.
Scott Douglas Jacobsen: What measures are considered to monitor and protect sensitive marine ecosystems?
Natural Resources Canada: In March 2023, the Minister of Environment and Climate Change announced the creation of a Regional Assessment Committee for Offshore Wind Development for Nova Scotia, and Newfoundland and Labrador, respectively. The purpose of the Regional Assessments was to provide information, knowledge and analysis regarding future offshore wind development activities in the study areas and their potential effects. This was to inform and improve future planning, licencing and impact assessment processes for these activities in a way that helps protect the environmental health, social and economic conditions while also creating opportunities for sustainable economic development.
In January 2025, the Committees submitted their Final Reports to governments, which have been published on the Impact Assessment Registry and are available through the following links:
- Final Regional Assessment Report of Offshore Wind Development in Nova Scotia
- Final Regional Assessment Report of Offshore Wind Development in Newfoundland and Labrador
Within these reports, the Committees have included recommendations to governments to inform the responsible development of the offshore wind energy industry. A number of recommendations address planning, considerations for co-existence, measures for mitigation and monitoring, and protection of the marine ecosystem.
As part of their mandate, the Committees also identified areas where offshore wind development may be suitable based upon technical feasibility, environmental considerations (e.g. marine protected areas, species at risk), and socio-economic considerations (e.g., commercial fishers and other ocean users). Proposed development areas also took into consideration feedback shared by participants during the extensive engagement programs. The Government will undertake further review and leverage other planning and decision-making tools, including Impact Assessments that will assess prospective economic, social, and environmental effects and mitigation measures of any proposed project(s).
For more information on the Regional Assessment Committees, please contact Impact Assessment Agency of Canadadirectly.
Jacobsen: What is the deployment timeline for offshore wind capacity and their financing structure?
Natural Resources Canada: According to current publicly available data, the global average timeline to build an offshore wind farm is around 7-9 years from the initial site assessment to full operation, with most of the time spent on permitting, environmental studies, and grid connection processes, rather than the construction itself. However, this can vary significantly depending on the location, regulatory environment, project size and complexity, and infrastructure requirements.
Jacobsen: Do these offshore wind projects represent significant regulatory challenges, or can these be streamlined if extant?
Natural Resources Canada: Offshore wind projects are complex to build and operate. The Government of Canada (GOC) has undertaken significant work to establish an effective, efficient and predictable legislative and regulatory framework to enable responsible development. In addition, the GOC has worked closely with the Governments of Nova Scotia and Newfoundland and Labrador to establish a legislative framework to support offshore wind development in the Canada-Nova Scotia and Canada-Newfoundland and Labrador offshore areas.
On January 31, 2025, amendments to the federal and provincial Canada-Nova Scotia Accord Acts were brought into force and the Canada Nova Scotia Offshore Energy Regulator became the lifecycle regulator for offshore petroleum and offshore renewable energy development. Amendments to the Canada-Newfoundland and Labrador Atlantic Accord Acts are expected to come into force later in 2025, which will expand the mandate of current Canada-Newfoundland and Labrador Offshore Petroleum Board (to be renamed the Canada Newfoundland and Labrador Offshore Energy Regulator) to become the lifecycle regulator for both offshore petroleum and offshore renewable energy development.
Regulations under the amended Accord Acts are in development and are based on the Federal Canada Offshore Renewable Energy Regulations that became law on December 16, 2024. These regulations will establish safety and environmental protection requirements for project developers.
Jacobsen: How will improved turbine designs or grid integration accelerate offshore wind energy generation efficiency?
Natural Resources Canada: This question is best directed to Marine Renewables Canada and offshore wind developers, as it falls outside the purview of NRCan.
Jacobsen: What is Canada’s part in the Global Offshore Wind Alliance?
Natural Resources Canada: Canada recently became a member of the Global Offshore Wind Alliance, a forum that supports collaboration with international partners on efforts to advance offshore wind as a source of clean and reliable energy.
Jacobsen: What are the lessons from offshore oil and gas, which could facilitate the transition to offshore wind energy?
Natural Resources Canada: Canada has a long history of offshore oil and gas development in the Atlantic Offshore, pursuant to comprehensive joint management frameworks established under the Canada–Newfoundland and Labrador Atlantic Accord Implementation Act and the Canada-Nova Scotia Offshore Petroleum Resources Accord Implementation Act, also known as the Accord Acts. There are strong joint management relationships and depth of experience from the regulatory and policy perspective in the offshore oil and gas sector that can be applied to offshore renewable energy. This includes expertise in practices such as running Call for Bids processes and issuing regulatory authorizations for project activities. That is why Governments opted to expand the existing regulatory regimes to include offshore renewable energy, by amending the Accord Acts.
Jacobsen: How will federal and subnational governments collaborate with industry stakeholders in this rapidly evolving market?
Natural Resources Canada: We already know that investors are interested in offshore wind projects in Canada, and many global offshore wind developers have stated that they see Canada as a promising market for future development, particularly on the east coast. The GOC recognizes the importance of regular dialogue and collaboration with different parties – from industry and commercial fishers to Indigenous groups as well as the general public – in moving forward with expanding offshore wind in Canada. Engagement with industry stakeholders is a key part of our work and has been taking place through fora such as Marine Renewables Canada. Insights from industry are significant to informing how governments will move forward with offshore wind planning and development in the future, and governments intend to continue outreach with interested and impacted stakeholders, including industry, to seek their feedback and input in support of building a strong and prosperous offshore wind industry in Canada.
Jacobsen: Thank you for the opportunity and your time.
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