Prime Minister Justin Trudeau was in Nova Scotia Thursday morning, where he announced $255 million in new spending for clean energy projects that will provide clean power to hundreds of thousands of Nova Scotian homes and create hundreds of jobs.
The Prime Minister’s Office said in a news release the new money will include $125 million for new wind power projects.
“We’re very, very excited about the hundreds of jobs that will be created, the hundreds of thousands of homes, and how we’re moving about building a stronger future for everyone,” Trudeau said at the announcement just outside of Halifax.
The new wind power projects will provide clean power to around 350,000 homes in Nova Scotia, according to a release from the Prime Minister’s Office, as well as delivering benefits to local Indigenous communities, including jobs and training.
Another $130 million of the money will be used for four battery sites across the province to store clean energy.
“With this investment, Nova Scotia will have one of the largest battery systems in North America,” the release reads.
In 2019, Nova Scotia’s main source of electricity generation was coal, with 51 per cent of the province’ total energy gleaned from it, according to Canada Energy Regulator figures.
Thursday’s announcement will help the province meet its goal of achieving 80 per cent renewable energy by 2030.
“This is an investment we’re making in the future of Nova Scotia, by recognizing the work that has been done but needs to continue to be done on greening the grid here,” Trudeau said at the announcement.
The projects included in the announcement are part of a competitive federal and provincial process, the release said.
Exact amounts and allocation of the federal funding will be confirmed when the competitive process is complete and agreements are finalized.
