Canada joins Global Offshore Wind Alliance

The Honourable Jonathan Wilkinson has announced Canada’s membership in the Global Offshore Wind Alliance (GOWA), which aims to mobilize international economies and agreements to accelerate offshore wind uptake. 

The Governments of Nova Scotia and Newfoundland and Labrador have also joined GOWA as subnational governments, and today’s announcement demonstrates a collective positioning of Canada’s commitment and ambition to advancing offshore wind as a domestic source of clean and reliable energy.

Through GOWA, Canada will gain access to international and industry expertise that will help strengthen the foundations of our offshore wind industry, complementing notable gains that have already been made to expand the offshore wind industry in Canada. These include:

• The passage of Bill C-49 to amend 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, which created the legislative framework for offshore renewable energy in the Atlantic region. It also expanded the mandate of the existing joint management offshore petroleum regulators to include offshore renewable energy.
• The coming into force of the Canada Offshore Renewable Energy regulations establishing safety and environmental protection requirements for project developers, which will serve as the foundation for future regulations under the Accord Acts;
• Regional Assessments of Offshore Wind in Atlantic Canada, which examined potential effects of projects and proposed mitigation measures and will inform Canada’s next steps on potential future development in Atlantic offshore areas; and
• Investments in supports and science-based activities to better understand and de-risk optimal areas for future projects, including the Offshore Wind Indigenous and Coastal Community Grant Initiative and the Atlantic Canada Offshore Wind Integration and Transmission Study.

As progress advances to build a strong and sustainable offshore wind industry Canada, we look forward to being part of this international economic community.

The Honourable Jonathan Wilkinson, Minister of Energy and Natural Resources, said:

“By joining GOWA and passing Bill C-49, Canada is positioning itself to seize the enormous economic opportunity that offshore wind presents for Atlantic Canadians. These steps will strengthen our domestic economy, enable the creation of thousands of Canadian jobs and attract billions in investments. Today’s announcement is another step forward for Canada as we act now to become a global supplier of choice for energy, very much including clean energy.”

The Honourable Trevor Boudreau, Nova Scotia Minister of Energy, said:

 “Offshore wind and green hydrogen are game changers for Nova Scotia. They’re going to help us and our global partners fight climate change, grow our green economy and bring benefits to Nova Scotians for generations to come. Becoming a member of the Global Offshore Wind Alliance is another step we’re taking to advance these sectors and put Nova Scotia on the global stage as a key player in clean energy.”

The Honourable Dr. Andrew Furey, Premier of Newfoundland and Labrador, said:

“Joining GOWA’s global membership is a significant step that reinforces Newfoundland and Labrador’s commitment to advancing the growth of the offshore wind industry. Our province’s vast renewable energy potential, combined with our skilled workforce and rich history in energy development, uniquely positions Newfoundland and Labrador to play a central role in the global transition to sustainable, green energy. As we continue to engage with stakeholders, this commitment opens the door to economic opportunities and strengthens our role in driving the clean energy transformation for Canada and beyond.”