Nova Scotia – United States Transmission Connection Socioeconomic Study

Status: In progress.

The project will provide a comprehensive understanding of the socioeconomic impacts that an offshore wind transmission corridor between Nova Scotia and the northeastern United States could have on the province. More specifically, it focuses on the infrastructure and services required and assesses the socioeconomic impacts of both the construction and operational phases of such a project in Nova Scotia.  

Objectives

This project aims to assess the socioeconomic impacts of an offshore wind transmission corridor between Nova Scotia and the northeastern United States. The project objectives include:

• Define a realistic project design framework by outlining development assumptions, describing the subsea cable’s design, permitting, construction, and operations, and identifying associated timelines, costs, and risks.
• Estimate additional OSW buildout enabled by an NS–US subsea connection through a defined analytical methodology and targeted stakeholder engagement.
• Assess economic impacts of the subsea cable and additional OSW development, including job creation, labour demand, and local versus non‑local sourcing opportunities across all project phases.
• Identify trades and skills requirements needed to support subsea cable development and additional OSW buildout, drawing on local analyses and lessons from other jurisdictions.
• Evaluate social impacts on Nova Scotian communities—such as housing, health care, emergency services, and other infrastructure needs—during construction and operation.
• Compile lessons learned and project risks from comparable subsea cable and OSW projects and assess their relevance to Nova Scotia’s context, including implications for cost and scheduling.

Outcomes

A public-facing report that provides insights into the socioeconomic impacts of an offshore wind transmission corridor between Nova Scotia and the northeastern United States. 

Support for this project

This research project is supported by funding from the Nova Scotia Department of Energy.