Unama’ki-Cape Breton has always been windy, but something has shifted in the last couple years. Now the same wind that blows our patio furniture away is being called ‘world class’ and ‘a nation-building opportunity’. 

Government and corporate leaders are optimistic that the offshore wind and green energy projects already underway in the Strait of Canso are going to be transformative not just for the Strait Area, not just for Unama’ki-Cape Breton, and not just the province of Nova Scotia. This is going to be as big as the railway.

Find more information about the Strait Area and offshore wind at the websites below. For a guide to living, working, and moving to Cape Breton, visit WelcomeToCapeBreton.ca.

• Cape Breton Partnership - Offshore Wind Industry Overview
• Cape Breton Partnership - Point Tupper Heavy Industrial Park
• Cape Breton Partnership - Green Energy Engagement Program
• Strait Area Chamber of Commerce

Amanda Mombourquette is a Co-Chair of the Strait of Canso Offshore Wind Task Force and the Warden of Richmond County. Brenda Chisholm-Beaton is the other Co-Chair of the Strait of Canso Offshore Wind Task Force and the Mayor of the Town of Port Hawkesbury.

• Strait of Canso Offshore Wind Task Force website
• Richmond County website: richmondcounty.ca
• Town of Port Hawkesbury website: townofporthawkesbury.ca

Carlos Martin is the CEO of BlueFloat Energy, an offshore wind developer headquartered in Madrid, Spain.

• Website: bluefloat.com

Peter Murphy is the Contract Manager for Svitzer Canada, a towage and marine services provider in the Strait Area.

• Website: svitzer.com

This episode is sponsored by Bear Head Energy. Bear Head Energy is one of North America's only fully permitted green hydrogen and ammonia sites. They have been working closely with local communities and Mi’kmaq nations for nearly  two decades and look forward to continuing to build relationships and bringing economic benefits to the region. Bear Head Energy is a wholly owned subsidiary of BAES Infrastructure, a diversified energy company focused on developing, constructing, and operating energy transition projects. Learn more and sign up to receive updates at BearHeadEnergy.ca.

About the Invest in Cape Breton podcast

Unama'ki-Cape Breton is on the cusp of an economic renaissance. Invest in Cape Breton is a podcast that will challenge your assumptions about the island’s economy through in-depth interviews with local changemakers. We go beyond the headlines to reveal the untapped potential for investors and entrepreneurs, and offer a preview of the island’s coming transformation. Right from the first episode, we’ll show you why there's never been a better time to invest in Cape Breton.

This podcast is an initiative of the Cape Breton Partnership. It is hosted by Michelle Samson and produced by Storied Places Media. The theme music is "Under My Skin" by Elyse Aeryn.

It's an exciting time to be in Unama'ki- Cape Breton.

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We're having an economic Renaissance.

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Carlos: we believe that Nova

Scotia can be, the battery of.

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Canada,

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Michelle: Throughout the series we'll

show you why there's never been a

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better time to invest in Cape Breton.

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Amanda: I've been using the word

transformative and a good friend of used

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the term nation building opportunity.

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This is as big as the railway

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Michelle: welcome back

to invest in Cape Breton.

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I'm your host, Michelle Samson.

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In this third episode,

sponsored by bear head energy.

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We're exploring the transformative

offshore, wind and green energy

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projects in the Strait of Canso.

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The Strait of Kanso is the water body that

separates mainland Nova Scotia from the

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island of Unama'ki Cape Breton it's deep.

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And until 70 years ago, water

flowed freely through it.

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People and goods had to cross it by ferry.

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But then a massive infrastructure

project connected the two sides

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for vehicle and train traffic.

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It wasn't a bridge, but a Causeway

made of 10 million tons of rock blasted

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from adjacent porcupine mountain.

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An unintended consequence of that project

was to create the world's deepest ice-free

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port right on the great circle route

and thus an industrial hub that can be

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served by the world's largest ships.

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That industrial legacy has

seen its ups and downs.

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But many local players who are in

the know are saying that the trend

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is swinging upward and expected

to reach an unprecedented high.

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The driving force behind it is the

global movement toward decarbonization.

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As discussed in episode two,

about the port of Sydney.

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Una McGee Cape Breton is home

to a world-class wind resources.

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And that opportunity is going to be tapped

here on the south coast of the island to.

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As someone who is raised in the straight

area, Richmond county in particular.

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The conversations I had for this

episode were incredibly exciting.

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I almost couldn't believe what's coming.

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But the guests I interviewed are,

as in the know, as they come.

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To government leaders and to corporate

leaders who are on the ground and

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ushering in this new green economy.

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Let's start with the government leaders

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Amanda: name is Amanda Mombourquette

and I am a community innovation

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lead with the Nova Scotia Community

College and an elected official,

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the warden of Richmond County.

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And I'm here in my role today

as a co-chair of the Straight of

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Canso Offshore Wind Task Force.

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Brenda: Hi, my name is

Brenda Chisholm-Beaton.

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I am mayor of the Town of Port

Hawksbury and I'm also here representing

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as a co-chair for the Strait of

Canso offshore Wind Task force.

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Michelle: Amanda.

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And Brenda are lifelong residents

of the area and throughout their

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careers have been working to create

good conditions for investment.

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I asked them to share a high

level view of the areas.

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Key assets.

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Brenda kicks it off, followed by Amanda.

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Brenda: I always love to talk

about . our multimodal transportation

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hub here in the strait.

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Uh, so we have a airport

five minutes away.

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We have rail.

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I think the, the rail that goes,

uh, to point tupper is the, the last

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rail line, uh, going to the island.

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Uh, we also have, of course, excellent

road connectors, I can't stress

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enough the importance of our IceFree

deep water port And of course, uh, I.

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Love being, uh, a cheerleader as

well for the, uh, Marine Institute

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and the Nova Scotia Community

College, uh, here in Hawkesbury.

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But

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Amanda: I'll just maybe build on what

Mayor Brenda was saying around the, the

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deep water harbor here it is capable

of accommodating the world's largest

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fully laden, uh, ultra large carriers.

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So that's, you know, 500,000 dead

weight ton vessels that we can

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accommodate And that's not the

case, uh, for a lot of other, other

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ports on the eastern seaboard.

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we do have designated Anchorage

here, so, which allows, uh,

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transloading and trans shipment.

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We've got, uh, the common user facility,

uh, the management of the straight

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of cancer Super Port Corporation,

which is an incredible asset.

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They do a great book of business

and we are central here to

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offshore resources as well.

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Right.

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And so having had the experience of the

Sable offshore and, and, uh, building

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on that experience, and not just from

an infrastructure perspective, but

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also from a relationship perspective

and, and, uh, you know, understanding

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that we need to be building

relationships with other stakeholders

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and rights holders in the region.

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So we've got a lot going for us, I

think, in the straight of cancer.

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Um, that sort of sets us apart and.

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It's been interesting.

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You know, personally I've been talking

about these competitive advantages that

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we've had for the last two decades.

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Yeah.

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And now to see industry interested in

locating here and telling me about the

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comparative advantages, I feel like a

little bit like I've won the lottery

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or that my messages out there in the

world, you know, a little, it's, it's

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very gratifying to see it coming back.

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Michelle: These compelling assets have

drawn large companies, including, but not

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limited to long-time corporate residents,

Port Hawkesbury Paper, Martin Marietta and

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Nova Scotia power as well as newer players

in offshore, wind and green energy.

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Like Ever Wind Fuels and Bear head energy.

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For all of the above, another competitive

advantage that has been resonating.

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Is that the area is pro-growth and

friendly to industrial development.

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Amanda says this isn't marketing spin.

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It's been true for a long time.

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Amanda: we've had a culture of welcoming

industry here for many decades.

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You know, if we look back to the

establishment of the Point Tupper heavy

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Industrial Park, the Milford Industrial

Reserve in Guysborough County, you know,

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there were some pretty forward thinking

councils and, and local leadership

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making these kinds of decisions.

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And, you know, frankly, the, the benefit

has been that industry has located here.

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So if you, if you get on a boat

in the strait of cancel and you,

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you sail up and down it, you are

gonna see a lot of private sector

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investment along those shores.

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so it cannot state enough how important

that, that, you know, that readiness is

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when companies come knocking on the door.

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And

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Brenda: Uh, absolutely.

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The only thing that I would add, uh,

in addition to all the great comments

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Amanda has made is the, the great

efforts from local leadership as well.

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Mm-hmm.

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, um, political leaders, business leaders,

know, we have a really strong chamber

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of commerce as well, you know, that,

really lends to that openness and

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preparing, uh, our region for, for growth.

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Michelle: On top of these favorable

conditions ever wind and bear head

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also found great sites in point

Tupper that were already serviced

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and had existing infrastructure.

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That made locating here

as easy as possible.

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Amanda: And I think, you know, with

ever wind and bear head, you know,

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both looking at the point Epper area

in particular and looking at the heavy

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industrial park there, the assets

that were in that park, um, really are

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second to none, ever wind's purchase

of the New Star facility, um, you know,

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gave them an immediate footprint here.

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It's, it was absolutely,

part of the reason.

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Why they've chosen to, to locate here,

um, was because of the quality of that

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facility and the potential that it has to

support moving away from, fossil fuels and

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moving into a more clean energy future.

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And certainly from bear head's

perspective, the incredible investment

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that had gone into the, uh, former

Anadaco site, that represents tens

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of millions of dollars right there.

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Mm-hmm.

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, um, in terms of, you know, why

they would choose to locate here.

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So we, we did have some very unique,

assets that were, part of the mix

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in making these two companies in

particular choose, uh, point upper.

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Michelle: And there's more land available.

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Amanda & Brenda: and there is

more and there's more Ville

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.

Brenda: And also just to add, like, that's how we know these are

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real projects because there's real

dollars like real investment Yeah.

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Uh, going into our region and have

gone into our region and continue

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to be invested in our region.

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You know, so that's how we

know this, this is happening.

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It's not a matter of if,

it's a matter of when.

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Amanda: there are tens of millions

of dollars being invested in a very

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fast, by companies who, who are

driven frankly by leaders that if they

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can't make this happen, no one can.

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Right?

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It's, it's a, it's a pretty, uh,

strong, uh, group of folks that

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ha that have decided to push

these, these projects forward.

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I look at the ever win project,

I look the inclusion of Potlotek

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and, um, Membertou and Paqtnkek

equity partners in the project.

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Yeah.

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You know, that's, that's a real,

concrete action that's being

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taken by one of these developers.

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And, and Bear Head has been doing

some, you know, excellent, you

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know, partnership development

their, Nations partners as well.

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So it really speaks to, I

think, the commitment of the

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teams behind these projects.

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And, you know, frankly, it's a level

of commitment that, I think is, fairly

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unusual, um, you know, to see so early on.

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'cause you gotta keep in mind

these Clean fuels projects weren't

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announced 5, 6, 10 years ago.

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They, they've been announced

within the last two years.

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And so it's a, it's a very quick

timeline of progress that's happened

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already and a lot of money being

invested right here in our communities

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Michelle: So with that foundation

of geographic assets, existing

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infrastructure, and a culture of

collaboration, the straight area is poised

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to scale its energy sector to new Heights.

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While, this region has been

powering Nova Scotia for the

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better part of a century soon.

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That could be powering

much more than that.

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Here's Amanda.

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Amanda: when I think about the part

that we have the opportunity to play

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on a global stage, to export clean

energy to some of the regions that

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need it the most, that are energy

starved, that are, that are currently

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getting their energy from an unethical

regimes, you know, it's, it's really.

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Uh, an incredible opportunity

that we get to meet this climate

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imperative, but also this social

imperative right around responsible

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energy production and consumption.

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And so, uh, like I really, I see

there's, there's a ton of opportunity,

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uh, uh, in the energy sector and of

course in fields that will support tho

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that sector such as, supply chain type

businesses, marine services and shipping.

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it really is mind boggling to think

about the opportunities ahead.

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Um, I think the other thing that,

you know, we are gonna be poised for

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growth in is on the manufacturing side.

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Because once we are at a point where

our levelized cost of energy for

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clean energy is at a very competitive

rate, um, it's gonna attract ma more

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manufacturing interest in this region.

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And if you think about our history in the

past on Cape Breton Island with, you know,

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steel and, and that type of thing, right?

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We, there's an opportunity for us

to be, I think, uh, looking at.

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Green manufacturing in a whole new way,

um, that will set us apart from a lot

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of other locations in North America.

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Michelle: So far in this conversation,

we've talked about clean energy

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and hinted that this growth and

development will be powered by wind.

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Particularly offshore, wind.

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But why wind rather than

another kind of green energy.

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One of the biggest factors may come

as no surprise to some Nova Scotia

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has offshore wind speeds that are

some of the best in the world.

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Amanda: to give you some perspective,

Michelle, you know, when Mayor Brenda

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and I attended the, uh, the, wind Europe

conference in Copenhagen a couple of

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months back, you know, we were talking

with a lot of folks who were looking

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at, uh, offshore wind development.

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And, I think there was some, a group

from Korea in particular, like some,

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you know, and they're, they're talking

about, you know, six to seven meters per

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second, uh, in terms of their wind speeds.

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And when we are starting to talk about

ours being between 10 and 11, you know,

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they are very envy of us very quickly.

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Absolutely.

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Because it's, just an incredible

opportunity for return on investment.

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Um, when you look at installing

these types of infrastructure,

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it's, expensive work, right?

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Mm-hmm.

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. And so knowing that we've got that wind

to support the return is a big, big deal.

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Brenda: Yeah.

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No, Amanda's correct.

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Michelle: so I mean, Cape Breton has

always been windy, and yet It seems like

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it's just in recent years that we're,

we're talking so much wind energy.

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So what has been the catalyst?

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Like what has changed to really

bring this to the forefront?

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Amanda: I'll jump in and just start by

saying, you know, a number of years ago

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there was a private company that had kind

of brought this opportunity to, uh, to my,

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my attention to Mayor Brenda's attention.

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We know, just, it was pointing to

the opportunity around capturing

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some of that offshore wind resource.

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Um, and so I know both of our councils

at the time issued letters of support.

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Mm-hmm.

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, um, you know, in principle,

I, I would say for mm-hmm.

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, you know, for this kind of discussion

or exploration into this industry.

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Um, around the same time as well,

you know, we started to hear a

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little bit about uh, person in

our community from Dundee, um,

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who, who's now living in Denmark.

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Uh, Aegir re uh, insights is, is, uh,

owned by Scott Urquhart, and he had been

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doing some research into, of course,

. That region is far ahead of us, right?

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Mm-hmm.

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in terms of, they're about

30 years ahead of us in terms

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of developing this resource.

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So he had been doing some research into

the wind regime in this region, and,

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uh, we started to kind of hear about,

what the opportunity could look like.

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It really led to the municipalities

kind of getting together with, um, you

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know, the Chamber of Commerce and other

stakeholders and rights holders to say,

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look, this is, this is bigger than any

one of us is gonna be able to handle.

247

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So let's form this task force.

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So right now our task force has

got over 30 signatories, uh,

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multiple municipal, uh, units.

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Uh, we've got provincial and

federal reps at that table.

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We've got First Nations

communities at that table.

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Fishers, um, you know, other in

industry supply chain businesses.

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It's a diverse collection of folks

who are interested in advancing the

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sector and, and doing so responsibly.

255

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So, absolutely.

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Yeah.

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So it, it was a question from industry,

but also some really, um, and unbiased

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research from, you know, from a company

that has had decades of experience in

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this and who also happens to have a

particular interest in Cape Breton Island.

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'cause he's from here.

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So Exactly.

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The stars aligned

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Michelle: thanks to that catalyst

and local buy-in the wind resource

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and the expertise to leverage it

is now here in the straight area.

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Just how.

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How big is the opportunity.

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Here's Amanda again.

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Amanda: I've been using the word

transformative and a good friend

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of ours who, helped to uh, get the

task force started, has used the

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term nation building opportunity.

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That's what this is.

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This is as big as the railway . Mm-hmm.

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this is as big as it gets because

we are in a position little Cape Red

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Island has been an energy hub for

our province for nearly a century.

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We are in a position now to

become an energy globally, and

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that is an exciting prospect.

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So know, when we started to understand

what the resource, uh, was looking

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like in terms of offshore wind

opportunity, um, we realized immediately

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this could be transformative.

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You know, we are, we're staring

down the barrel of, elimination of

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coal, energy production by 2030.

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Um, we know there are lots of jobs

in this region that depend on that.

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Right now.

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We need to be able to plan for what's next

or we're going to have a big hit, right?

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I think we had a, environmental

responsibility to do so as well.

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Um, so, so we began to lobby the

provincial government in particular, but

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also the federal government, um, as a task

force to take a look at this opportunity.

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Seriously.

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To publicly state that they are

interested in exploring this

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opportunity because without that

public statement and that public

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00:15:23,215 --> 00:15:27,295

discourse that would follow, you know,

really nothing was going to get done.

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Um, and so we were really gratified

to be recognized, I think.

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00:15:30,855 --> 00:15:30,935

Absolutely.

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You know, by, uh, minister Rushin at, uh,

an announcement, uh, September or two ago.

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Yes, talking about, you know, yes,

we, we are interested in this and

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establishing a goal of having, uh,

five gigawatts, uh, in, in the waters

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00:15:44,472 --> 00:15:45,752

right, in the, in the coming years.

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And so that was a huge,

huge step forward for us.

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Um, I think without the work of the

task force particularly the diversity

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00:15:52,432 --> 00:15:55,572

of the membership of the task force,

I'm not sure we would have been as

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effective in that advocacy work.

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Michelle: Nation building opportunity.

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Wow.

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Right.

305

00:16:03,106 --> 00:16:05,447

The Strait of canso,

offshore wind taskforce.

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00:16:05,477 --> 00:16:07,457

We'll be making sure

that the opportunities

307

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don't come at the expense

of something else.

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00:16:09,816 --> 00:16:12,696

Like residents, existing

industries, or the environment.

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Further, there'll be making sure

that the opportunities are inclusive

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so that no one is left behind.

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The task force has already been very

busy with more than 50 presentations to

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municipal and first nations councils,

and community groups under their belts.

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These presentations are about

educating stakeholders, as well

314

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as listening to what they have to

say, and addressing their concerns.

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00:16:36,001 --> 00:16:39,841

For example, they heard concerns about

whether green hydrogen production

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would deplete local water resources.

317

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Brenda.

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And Amanda want to ensure residents

that the municipalities won't

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be taking any chances on that.

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00:16:47,906 --> 00:16:51,686

They're confident that green hydrogen will

use much less than the heavy water plant.

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00:16:51,956 --> 00:16:55,436

That the utility and the watershed

were able to accommodate in the past.

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00:16:55,946 --> 00:16:58,526

But they're still doing a

new study just to be sure.

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00:16:59,433 --> 00:17:01,623

Let's take a quick break

to learn about this

324

00:17:01,623 --> 00:17:06,663

episode sponsor their head energy is one

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325

00:17:06,843 --> 00:17:08,883

green, hydrogen and ammonia sites.

326

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They have been working closely with

local communities and Mi'kmaq nation's

327

00:17:12,453 --> 00:17:17,103

for nearly two decades and look forward

to continuing to build relationships and

328

00:17:17,103 --> 00:17:19,233

bringing economic benefits to the region.

329

00:17:19,742 --> 00:17:24,242

Bear had energy is a wholly owned

subsidiary of BAES infrastructure, a

330

00:17:24,242 --> 00:17:28,323

diversified energy company, focused

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00:17:28,323 --> 00:17:30,843

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332

00:17:31,263 --> 00:17:35,823

Learn more and sign up to receive

updates at bearheadenergy.ca.

333

00:17:36,787 --> 00:17:40,147

So far in this episode, we've

heard about bare head energy and

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00:17:40,147 --> 00:17:43,520

ever wind, But there's another

player in the straight area.

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00:17:43,640 --> 00:17:46,250

That's looking to harness

our wind resources.

336

00:17:46,757 --> 00:17:49,308

Carlos: So I am Carlos Martin, I

am the CEO of Bluefloat Energy.

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00:17:49,805 --> 00:17:53,585

Spain based blue float energy

is a relatively new but fast

338

00:17:53,585 --> 00:17:57,545

growing developer that specializes

entirely in offshore wind.

339

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They have projects in 10 different

markets on three continents.

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00:18:01,805 --> 00:18:06,065

They quietly arrived in the Strait area a

couple of years ago with ambitious goals.

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00:18:06,428 --> 00:18:10,368

Carlos: Well, our goals in the, in the

Strait of Canso region is really to set

342

00:18:10,368 --> 00:18:13,582

up the offshore wind industry in Canada.

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Uh, we believe there's a major potential

for offshore wind development in the

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00:18:18,643 --> 00:18:23,193

region, both because there's a fantastic

wind resource world class, uh, that is

345

00:18:23,193 --> 00:18:25,226

a source of, of wealth for the region.

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00:18:25,266 --> 00:18:29,766

And we are keen on, uh, helping the

local communities harnessing this power.

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00:18:30,206 --> 00:18:32,636

But we believe that beyond that,

there's also some very good

348

00:18:32,656 --> 00:18:34,026

opportunity to transforming.

349

00:18:34,536 --> 00:18:38,956

Uh, the local economy, uh, to

industrialize the area, build new

350

00:18:39,026 --> 00:18:43,236

capabilities that are able to deliver

those projects and go beyond the

351

00:18:43,246 --> 00:18:47,966

boundaries of Nova Scotia or even

Canada and, uh, develop a hub for

352

00:18:47,966 --> 00:18:51,936

offshore wind development in the whole,

uh, northeastern part of America.

353

00:18:52,589 --> 00:18:55,969

our aspiration is to be the leader in the

development of the market in Nova Scotia.

354

00:18:57,174 --> 00:19:02,584

We are perceived as the most reliable

and committed company in the province.

355

00:19:04,681 --> 00:19:08,851

Creating an offshore wind industry

in Canada will be a long road.

356

00:19:09,353 --> 00:19:12,503

they're aiming to complete the first

project by the end of this decade.

357

00:19:13,283 --> 00:19:15,413

But even the longest

roads start somewhere.

358

00:19:15,863 --> 00:19:16,763

For blue float.

359

00:19:16,823 --> 00:19:20,663

Their first step in any new market is

to put boots on the ground and build

360

00:19:20,663 --> 00:19:22,313

trust with the local communities.

361

00:19:22,772 --> 00:19:23,922

Carlos: We like to engage early.

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00:19:23,992 --> 00:19:27,692

We like to be present early in the

development of our projects, because

363

00:19:27,702 --> 00:19:31,152

the only way for projects to be

successful and sustainable is by,

364

00:19:31,552 --> 00:19:37,212

uh, being connected with, um, the

different local stakeholders and,

365

00:19:37,560 --> 00:19:42,930

Serving for a common purpose of social,

environmental and economic development.

366

00:19:42,930 --> 00:19:49,850

So, so far, We have met with, uh,

all the municipalities, uh, the

367

00:19:50,270 --> 00:19:54,780

administration, but also meeting other

very important groups like First Nations,

368

00:19:55,320 --> 00:19:57,489

fishermen, and so on and so forth.

369

00:19:57,655 --> 00:20:02,385

To explain what our plans are but

more importantly, to listen from

370

00:20:02,385 --> 00:20:06,415

them what their aspirations are

and what they can advise us on how

371

00:20:06,415 --> 00:20:08,395

to turn these projects successful.

372

00:20:08,846 --> 00:20:11,696

Michelle: An interesting thing to note

in regards to the fishing industry,

373

00:20:11,906 --> 00:20:15,356

blue float, won't just be learning about

it through their engagement efforts.

374

00:20:15,596 --> 00:20:17,846

They also have some internal expertise.

375

00:20:18,206 --> 00:20:20,276

Stephen Graham, their stakeholder manager.

376

00:20:20,276 --> 00:20:23,246

I used to be a fishermen and

comes from a fishing family.

377

00:20:23,456 --> 00:20:25,736

So he has knowledge of

how the industry works.

378

00:20:26,396 --> 00:20:28,046

As for the first nations communities.

379

00:20:28,316 --> 00:20:31,586

Blue flow does taking extra

steps to meaningfully engage.

380

00:20:31,586 --> 00:20:32,096

with them.

381

00:20:32,735 --> 00:20:36,895

Carlos: First Nations, as I was

commenting before, are, uh, very

382

00:20:36,895 --> 00:20:39,005

important for the success of this project.

383

00:20:39,362 --> 00:20:44,895

we are, developing these projects

in a land that has, a very long

384

00:20:45,065 --> 00:20:46,902

history, and they concentrate.

385

00:20:47,239 --> 00:20:48,802

The knowledge about that history.

386

00:20:49,385 --> 00:20:53,359

there's so much we can learn from

their traditions, their stories.

387

00:20:53,782 --> 00:20:56,942

we need to incorporate that

into into our developments.

388

00:20:57,502 --> 00:20:59,842

It's very interesting because

we have a presence in 10

389

00:20:59,842 --> 00:21:01,292

different markets worldwide.

390

00:21:02,132 --> 00:21:05,842

Um, many of these markets

have indigenous communities,

391

00:21:06,672 --> 00:21:12,072

I was in July in New Zealand

and Australia met also with the,

392

00:21:12,132 --> 00:21:16,532

communities in New Zealand with,

um, traditional owners in Australia.

393

00:21:17,572 --> 00:21:18,052

And.

394

00:21:18,398 --> 00:21:22,057

It's very interesting that all these

communities have shared values around

395

00:21:22,507 --> 00:21:28,472

the respect for the elders, the

importance of tradition, the importance

396

00:21:28,472 --> 00:21:33,917

of the oral tradition, the attachment

to the cultural heritage, and a very

397

00:21:34,437 --> 00:21:36,207

special relationship with nature.

398

00:21:36,884 --> 00:21:40,944

The concept of nature is probably

different than the ones we have in

399

00:21:41,224 --> 00:21:47,757

our, societies today, one of our, of

our counterparties remarked that our

400

00:21:47,757 --> 00:21:51,707

own tradition in Europe, for example,

used to be very connected to them

401

00:21:51,707 --> 00:21:55,927

to nature that the old Greeks had a

very similar connection with nature.

402

00:21:56,327 --> 00:21:56,637

So

403

00:21:56,687 --> 00:21:57,630

it has been a bit lost.

404

00:21:58,093 --> 00:22:01,873

due to industrialization, but it's good

to go back to the roots and consider

405

00:22:01,873 --> 00:22:04,613

nature as our own mother, our own father.

406

00:22:05,033 --> 00:22:05,203

and.

407

00:22:05,507 --> 00:22:08,817

We wouldn't do harm to our own family.

408

00:22:09,147 --> 00:22:12,837

So, it's a long, relationship

we need to develop, uh, with

409

00:22:12,887 --> 00:22:14,707

those, uh, First Nations.

410

00:22:15,237 --> 00:22:21,807

It should be based on trust and it's, it's

trust built over time by commitment, by

411

00:22:22,027 --> 00:22:26,922

listening, by exchange of, perspectives,

but it's definitely based on listening

412

00:22:26,922 --> 00:22:28,442

and that's what exactly what we are doing.

413

00:22:29,073 --> 00:22:32,043

Michelle: Across all of the groups

they're engaging with, blue float

414

00:22:32,043 --> 00:22:33,753

is hearing some common themes.

415

00:22:34,188 --> 00:22:40,002

Carlos: so we're hearing strong messages

about, aspiration of doing, um, not so

416

00:22:40,202 --> 00:22:46,002

just something that can be beneficial for

the economic development of the region.

417

00:22:46,462 --> 00:22:49,912

But, creating something which

can support the global effort,

418

00:22:50,392 --> 00:22:52,052

um, against climate change.

419

00:22:52,762 --> 00:22:57,622

Uh, can be a force of good,

uh, for the regional, the, um,

420

00:22:57,712 --> 00:22:59,682

national and the world economy.

421

00:23:00,242 --> 00:23:04,455

But we have also heard about

concerns, because everybody wants

422

00:23:04,455 --> 00:23:09,295

to, uh, develop this industry in

a very environmental and conscious

423

00:23:09,295 --> 00:23:11,035

manner and socially conscious manner.

424

00:23:11,605 --> 00:23:14,785

So, um, that's a strong message we have.

425

00:23:15,035 --> 00:23:21,055

Incorporated into the way we do things

from the outset, and we are, we are

426

00:23:21,205 --> 00:23:26,065

very much committed to continuing this

dialogue and to make sure that all

427

00:23:26,075 --> 00:23:29,955

these projects can be done in a very

respectful manner with the existing.

428

00:23:30,245 --> 00:23:34,175

Uh, activities, economic activities,

including fishing with the cultural

429

00:23:34,205 --> 00:23:38,665

heritage, especially for First

Nations and in such a way that the

430

00:23:38,665 --> 00:23:41,105

local communities can definitely

benefit from these developments.

431

00:23:41,904 --> 00:23:45,144

Michelle: Is addressing these

concerns something that is, um,

432

00:23:45,164 --> 00:23:49,288

within, current technology and, you

know, are there unknowns about it?

433

00:23:49,298 --> 00:23:51,851

Or, is it maybe safer than people think?

434

00:23:52,158 --> 00:23:57,096

Carlos: Well, he, he definitely he's,

less impactful that some people fear.

435

00:23:57,236 --> 00:24:00,466

And, um, the good thing about this

dialogue is that it's a very good

436

00:24:00,466 --> 00:24:05,446

way of, um, communicating both

sides of educating each other, both

437

00:24:05,476 --> 00:24:09,986

on the existing activities and on

how these new technology works.

438

00:24:10,466 --> 00:24:14,279

And that first step is already,

uh, very productive because

439

00:24:14,279 --> 00:24:15,649

many of the fears that exist.

440

00:24:16,636 --> 00:24:17,726

dissipate relatively fast.

441

00:24:18,280 --> 00:24:22,602

because, people realize that it's less

impactful than they had feared initially.

442

00:24:23,372 --> 00:24:26,442

Just to give an example, people, when

they think about offloading, think

443

00:24:26,442 --> 00:24:28,162

they're going to see a huge turbine.

444

00:24:28,667 --> 00:24:29,447

Next to the coast.

445

00:24:29,577 --> 00:24:30,387

Well, that's not the case.

446

00:24:30,667 --> 00:24:31,837

Termites are very far away.

447

00:24:31,837 --> 00:24:38,087

They are seldom visible and, um, and

the visual the same happens with, um,

448

00:24:38,407 --> 00:24:42,317

fishing, for example, in which many times

people fear that it's going to be very

449

00:24:42,317 --> 00:24:44,517

harmful for, um, for the local ecosystems.

450

00:24:45,117 --> 00:24:46,257

It's usually the opposite.

451

00:24:46,257 --> 00:24:48,867

It's usually a good

shelter for many species.

452

00:24:49,587 --> 00:24:53,837

Uh, over time experience from other

markets show that there's a potential for,

453

00:24:54,287 --> 00:24:59,287

uh, bigger catches and more life to, to,

to grow around these, these wind farms.

454

00:24:59,827 --> 00:25:04,422

Now The conclusion we've come, not

just here, but in other markets is

455

00:25:04,432 --> 00:25:07,692

that there's always good solutions,

technical solutions to address problems.

456

00:25:08,332 --> 00:25:13,372

That's usually not the big issue

when developing these projects.

457

00:25:13,632 --> 00:25:18,092

The bigger issue is understanding

what are the concerns, what

458

00:25:18,112 --> 00:25:19,142

are the potential impacts.

459

00:25:19,682 --> 00:25:24,122

And for that purpose, this early phase

of engagement is absolutely critical

460

00:25:24,132 --> 00:25:28,722

because what we're doing right now

is to map What are the implications,

461

00:25:28,772 --> 00:25:31,902

the impacts, the interactions that

need to be taken into account during

462

00:25:31,902 --> 00:25:33,102

the development of our projects?

463

00:25:33,192 --> 00:25:35,832

When you understand those very

clearly at the beginning, there's

464

00:25:35,832 --> 00:25:37,082

always ways of addressing that.

465

00:25:37,852 --> 00:25:41,072

Through design, through new technologies,

through location, and so forth.

466

00:25:42,192 --> 00:25:47,362

But if you don't listen to these

concerns early on, then it's

467

00:25:47,362 --> 00:25:49,032

very difficult to address them.

468

00:25:49,072 --> 00:25:53,092

And changing things when projects are

already advanced is almost impossible.

469

00:25:53,681 --> 00:25:58,535

Michelle: we were curious about, whether

you're going to, um, approach community

470

00:25:58,535 --> 00:26:02,598

benefit in a similar way as in Europe,

where, developers of offshore and onshore

471

00:26:02,608 --> 00:26:06,498

wind projects often commit to providing

a fixed amount per kilowatt hour into

472

00:26:06,498 --> 00:26:10,519

a fund that community groups can use

for socioeconomic development projects.

473

00:26:10,829 --> 00:26:13,309

Are there any plans to do

something like that here?

474

00:26:13,972 --> 00:26:17,489

Carlos: we've already talked

about, The importance of having a

475

00:26:17,539 --> 00:26:21,736

important, social, positive social

effect on the local communities and

476

00:26:21,746 --> 00:26:23,766

our commitment for delivering that.

477

00:26:24,286 --> 00:26:28,673

So, that commitment is there and there's

multiple ways of, achieving that goal.

478

00:26:29,173 --> 00:26:30,453

We only discuss about.

479

00:26:30,743 --> 00:26:34,003

Replicating formulas at work

elsewhere, because every local

480

00:26:34,003 --> 00:26:37,173

community is different, have different

needs, different aspirations.

481

00:26:37,963 --> 00:26:45,333

So, yeah, there's good case examples,

but we, we always avoid copycatting

482

00:26:45,773 --> 00:26:47,033

what has been on elsewhere.

483

00:26:47,583 --> 00:26:49,143

That usually doesn't work.

484

00:26:49,516 --> 00:26:53,586

you really need to start from scratch

everywhere and start by listening.

485

00:26:53,586 --> 00:26:56,666

What is the aspiration from the local

communities that we're doing right now?

486

00:26:56,666 --> 00:26:58,096

And then we will develop together.

487

00:26:58,478 --> 00:27:02,138

formulas that can achieve

a positive social impact.

488

00:27:02,608 --> 00:27:03,798

Sometimes it's a fund.

489

00:27:04,768 --> 00:27:09,115

Sometimes it's about, investing

on training more than just

490

00:27:09,115 --> 00:27:11,415

providing, uh, those funds.

491

00:27:11,945 --> 00:27:15,525

Sometimes it's about,

dedicating a shared effort for.

492

00:27:17,605 --> 00:27:22,855

I'm inventing, but for protecting the

environment or for addressing any social

493

00:27:22,855 --> 00:27:24,525

issue which is specific to this area.

494

00:27:25,055 --> 00:27:29,655

So again, the commitment is there,

we will find formulas for that social

495

00:27:29,655 --> 00:27:34,645

impact to happen, but we are not of

the opinion that just copying what has

496

00:27:34,785 --> 00:27:36,205

worked somewhere else will work here.

497

00:27:36,665 --> 00:27:37,895

I will be very cautious about it.

498

00:27:38,375 --> 00:27:43,565

So the first step for Carlos and for

blue float is to engage and that dialogue

499

00:27:43,685 --> 00:27:45,425

won't just be limited to this phase.

500

00:27:45,425 --> 00:27:49,355

It will continue throughout the project's

development, construction and operation.

501

00:27:50,102 --> 00:27:52,202

As for when the next

phase will be triggered.

502

00:27:52,592 --> 00:27:54,572

That's going to be a political decision.

503

00:27:55,087 --> 00:27:59,137

Carlos: as soon as the government,

uh, approves legislation that

504

00:27:59,137 --> 00:28:01,577

allows to secure seabed leases.

505

00:28:02,612 --> 00:28:06,072

We will move into a phase of

consenting, environmental consenting.

506

00:28:06,392 --> 00:28:10,052

We need to analyze all the potential

impacts on the local ecosystems,

507

00:28:10,052 --> 00:28:13,182

local species, local activities,

and it's not just about environment,

508

00:28:13,182 --> 00:28:15,312

it's also about, the social impact.

509

00:28:15,312 --> 00:28:20,413

Thank We need to, uh, explain how the

project will impact these activities,

510

00:28:20,503 --> 00:28:24,293

how we're gonna make sure that the

impact is limited to the minimum,

511

00:28:24,343 --> 00:28:28,213

and if there's any, um, mitigation

measure to be implemented, what

512

00:28:28,243 --> 00:28:29,863

type of mitigation, uh, measures

513

00:28:30,316 --> 00:28:36,759

All that is reviewed by, um, um, state

agencies that, uh, scrutinize every

514

00:28:36,759 --> 00:28:38,219

single aspect of the project before.

515

00:28:38,564 --> 00:28:42,314

Getting to any approval, which always

comes with a number of mitigation

516

00:28:42,364 --> 00:28:43,834

measures to be to be implemented.

517

00:28:43,864 --> 00:28:47,764

That's very important to highlight because

the fact that is definitely not a free

518

00:28:47,764 --> 00:28:49,904

check to do whatever we want at sea.

519

00:28:50,294 --> 00:28:52,484

And in parallel to this,

we will be developing the

520

00:28:52,564 --> 00:28:54,034

technical solution, engineering.

521

00:28:54,454 --> 00:28:57,964

So that eventually we are able to

finance these projects and execute

522

00:28:57,964 --> 00:29:01,694

them, uh, to supply clean power

to the, to the Nova Scotians.

523

00:29:02,588 --> 00:29:05,558

Michelle: what's the, the scale of

what you're hoping to accomplish?

524

00:29:06,168 --> 00:29:09,853

Carlos: Yeah, we always, we always

question about putting figures here

525

00:29:09,853 --> 00:29:14,373

because it really depends on how good we

do things, when we, we prepare for that.

526

00:29:14,719 --> 00:29:15,579

But it's very significant.

527

00:29:15,759 --> 00:29:20,056

We're talking about thousands

of potential new jobs, not only

528

00:29:20,056 --> 00:29:21,456

doing construction, but operate.

529

00:29:21,496 --> 00:29:23,696

The operation phase is

also very people intensive.

530

00:29:24,035 --> 00:29:28,624

We need, people to, operate the vessels

that allow us to get to the wind farm.

531

00:29:28,924 --> 00:29:29,874

We need people to.

532

00:29:30,464 --> 00:29:33,744

I maintain the wind

farms to supervise them.

533

00:29:33,744 --> 00:29:39,644

Usually these wind farms have a control

center that works 24 7 So yeah, the

534

00:29:40,124 --> 00:29:44,821

operational phase will require also

tens if not hundreds technicians.

535

00:29:45,684 --> 00:29:48,169

And all that is adding to

the to the previous figure.

536

00:29:48,495 --> 00:29:49,705

I think is worth mentioning.

537

00:29:49,935 --> 00:29:52,885

in a business like energy

that has traditionally been

538

00:29:52,885 --> 00:29:54,905

more a male industry, we want.

539

00:29:55,405 --> 00:29:57,405

Renewables and offshoring

in particular to be.

540

00:29:57,920 --> 00:30:04,488

Uh, a very diverse and equal sector

that can attract all the talent from,

541

00:30:04,488 --> 00:30:08,831

different profiles and definitely

gender equality is absolutely critical

542

00:30:08,881 --> 00:30:10,411

for attracting the best talent.

543

00:30:10,978 --> 00:30:14,968

Blue float needs a huge workforce of

thousands of people because they're

544

00:30:14,998 --> 00:30:17,248

Amy to produce a huge amount of energy.

545

00:30:17,762 --> 00:30:20,262

Carlos: the metric we're using

for the capacity of these

546

00:30:20,262 --> 00:30:22,052

wind farms is the megawatt.

547

00:30:22,739 --> 00:30:29,349

And for a province that today has

around 3, 000 megawatts of installed

548

00:30:29,349 --> 00:30:33,509

capacity, mostly coal generation

capacity, what we're trying to achieve

549

00:30:33,579 --> 00:30:41,223

is at least One, 1,500 megawatts of

offshore wind development replacing

550

00:30:41,223 --> 00:30:45,613

that coal generation capacity and

hence, dramatically reduce c o

551

00:30:45,613 --> 00:30:46,963

two emissions in the province.

552

00:30:47,443 --> 00:30:48,823

But that's just the first step.

553

00:30:48,833 --> 00:30:54,780

Um, in the longer run, we believe that

Nova Scotia can be, the battery of.

554

00:30:54,780 --> 00:30:58,193

Canada, but also the

battery of other countries.

555

00:30:58,413 --> 00:31:04,173

We've recently seen the visit of

the German sensor to Canada with a

556

00:31:04,173 --> 00:31:07,503

very high topic on the agenda, which

is the supply of green hydrogen.

557

00:31:07,989 --> 00:31:09,445

Everywhere in the world.

558

00:31:09,956 --> 00:31:13,486

Green hydrogen and offshore

wind go hand in hand.

559

00:31:13,486 --> 00:31:16,556

Everybody knows that these two

industries will develop together.

560

00:31:16,656 --> 00:31:18,536

They are very different,

but very complementary.

561

00:31:19,013 --> 00:31:21,081

when you thinking about green

hydrogen, you're looking for

562

00:31:21,091 --> 00:31:23,261

massive green, affordable.

563

00:31:23,616 --> 00:31:28,236

power, and that's exactly what also we

can deliver in Nova Scotia beyond this

564

00:31:28,306 --> 00:31:29,766

first phase that I was commenting before.

565

00:31:29,766 --> 00:31:34,376

There's the potential to develop many

more megawatts in the future that can

566

00:31:34,376 --> 00:31:38,976

feed in green hydrogen plants, and

there's different projects already on the

567

00:31:39,016 --> 00:31:44,766

development in the state of council, um,

so that, uh, hopefully one day soon Nova

568

00:31:44,766 --> 00:31:49,086

Scotia can be one of the big exporters

of green hydrogen to fuel the global

569

00:31:49,086 --> 00:31:50,881

economy in a very sustainable manner.

570

00:31:51,396 --> 00:31:54,360

Michelle: If green hydrogen wasn't

developing at the same time.

571

00:31:54,750 --> 00:31:56,520

Would this place be less attractive

572

00:31:56,903 --> 00:32:00,571

Carlos: The attractiveness of the

of the province is, significant

573

00:32:00,571 --> 00:32:02,371

extent linked to green hydrogen.

574

00:32:02,441 --> 00:32:06,631

Um, but in order to attract big

investments, you need to have a longer

575

00:32:06,631 --> 00:32:12,061

perspective about, new developments, these

will not all come from the green hydrogen.

576

00:32:12,521 --> 00:32:16,401

When I say green hydrogen, I would like to

forget other energy intensive industries.

577

00:32:16,431 --> 00:32:19,351

This is probably the more visible

ones, but there's also potential for

578

00:32:19,701 --> 00:32:25,414

other types of, green commodities like

Uh, anything from steel, aluminum or

579

00:32:25,514 --> 00:32:27,174

fertilizers, just to give a few examples.

580

00:32:28,004 --> 00:32:31,624

So all that provides a longer

term perspective about, new

581

00:32:31,664 --> 00:32:34,564

developments that is very important

to justify these investments.

582

00:32:35,614 --> 00:32:39,994

There's also the possibility, although

that is more subject to the political will

583

00:32:39,994 --> 00:32:46,214

on, on the two countries to connect the

province to, um, the northeast of the U.

584

00:32:46,214 --> 00:32:46,324

S.

585

00:32:46,914 --> 00:32:49,914

That would make a lot of sense

because the potential for...

586

00:32:50,599 --> 00:32:55,339

Green power export is huge, and there's

a need, there's a demand for that power

587

00:32:55,569 --> 00:33:02,919

in states like Massachusetts, Rhode

Island, or Connecticut, but, um, that

588

00:33:02,919 --> 00:33:06,449

is always tricky, there needs to be a

very strong political will to get there.

589

00:33:07,299 --> 00:33:11,279

We are part of the initiatives to

sponsor these type of interconnections,

590

00:33:11,279 --> 00:33:13,779

but we are conscious they will

take some time to materialize.

591

00:33:14,686 --> 00:33:17,896

Michelle: Here in the straight area,

at least the political will and the

592

00:33:17,896 --> 00:33:20,176

culture of collaboration is strong.

593

00:33:20,776 --> 00:33:24,766

Carlos experienced it for himself during

his first visit to the Strait area.

594

00:33:24,796 --> 00:33:25,456

This fall.

595

00:33:25,906 --> 00:33:29,596

The cornerstone of that visit was a

ceremony where blue floats signed an

596

00:33:29,596 --> 00:33:32,867

MOU with the Cape Breton partnership

and joined the straight area

597

00:33:32,867 --> 00:33:36,767

chamber of commerce and the Strait

of canso offshore, wind taskforce.

598

00:33:37,278 --> 00:33:39,888

It was also an opportunity

to meet many stakeholders.

599

00:33:39,918 --> 00:33:40,698

Face-to-face.

600

00:33:41,508 --> 00:33:45,378

Carlos says the visit made a big

impression on him and was a turning

601

00:33:45,378 --> 00:33:47,208

point for blue floats relationship.

602

00:33:47,268 --> 00:33:48,018

With the area.

603

00:33:48,861 --> 00:33:53,331

Carlos: That was a fantastic attendance,

And it was quite amazing to see everybody

604

00:33:53,371 --> 00:33:58,708

from, uh, regional ministers, majors,

leaders of of Industry associations.

605

00:33:59,678 --> 00:34:03,938

First Nations representatives were

blessed by the presence from, um, Elder

606

00:34:03,948 --> 00:34:10,264

Marshall, who made a fantastic speech

talking about, learning from the mistakes

607

00:34:10,264 --> 00:34:15,313

from the past, uh, but looking to learn

from those to create a better future,

608

00:34:15,623 --> 00:34:17,063

looking for the next generations.

609

00:34:17,764 --> 00:34:22,364

We had, uh, students attending

the session that were very

610

00:34:22,364 --> 00:34:24,083

interested in learning about.

611

00:34:24,498 --> 00:34:26,129

what are the opportunities in this sector?

612

00:34:26,559 --> 00:34:27,969

The growth prospects

and so on and so forth.

613

00:34:28,039 --> 00:34:32,420

And I think they went out of that

meeting with even more motivation

614

00:34:32,420 --> 00:34:35,001

than when they arrived about

working in this in this sector.

615

00:34:35,001 --> 00:34:41,551

So when you hear, um, the traditional,

uh, owners of the land, when

616

00:34:41,551 --> 00:34:47,130

you hear industrials, the civil

servants, decision makers, the

617

00:34:47,130 --> 00:34:48,650

younger generation all aligned.

618

00:34:49,251 --> 00:34:50,701

it was a, an inspiration.

619

00:34:51,224 --> 00:34:56,393

And I came back fully energized and

convinced that offshore wind will happen.

620

00:34:57,343 --> 00:34:59,293

Michelle: Another way blue

float we'll be connecting to the

621

00:34:59,293 --> 00:35:01,633

community is through a supply chain.

622

00:35:02,083 --> 00:35:05,143

Like most companies, blue float

will need to buy products and

623

00:35:05,143 --> 00:35:08,233

services from other local companies

in order to get things done.

624

00:35:08,953 --> 00:35:12,313

As an emerging industry some of

what they need will be available

625

00:35:12,433 --> 00:35:14,113

but some will have to be developed

626

00:35:14,811 --> 00:35:17,018

Carlos: we are mapping what

is, in, the province already.

627

00:35:17,248 --> 00:35:17,968

And there's a lot.

628

00:35:18,194 --> 00:35:22,414

I must admit that these are

very good basis for, bigger

629

00:35:22,444 --> 00:35:25,144

companies to source from.

630

00:35:25,754 --> 00:35:30,684

The main potential for job

creation and value creation, in our

631

00:35:30,694 --> 00:35:32,494

view, is on the foundation side.

632

00:35:32,768 --> 00:35:35,828

which in offshore wind is a

big part of the investment.

633

00:35:36,219 --> 00:35:39,309

the province has very strong

capabilities in concrete foundations,

634

00:35:39,829 --> 00:35:41,769

I think there's many services

that can be conducted.

635

00:35:41,969 --> 00:35:44,969

And here Nova Scotia, because it's

an Atlantic province, and it has a

636

00:35:44,969 --> 00:35:48,889

long tradition of working at sea,

has very some capabilities in.

637

00:35:49,384 --> 00:35:55,534

Um, in shipping, in maritime

logistics, uh, maritime operations,

638

00:35:55,874 --> 00:35:59,634

training for health and safety in

maritime environments, which is

639

00:35:59,634 --> 00:36:01,874

absolutely paramount for our job.

640

00:36:02,434 --> 00:36:06,974

So all that I think are very important

I would also like to mention, uh,

641

00:36:06,984 --> 00:36:10,384

higher skill, well, all these jobs

are highly skilled because they're

642

00:36:10,384 --> 00:36:13,764

very specialized work, but we also

need to innovate in this industry.

643

00:36:14,119 --> 00:36:15,349

Uh, innovation is constant.

644

00:36:15,569 --> 00:36:19,929

So there's a big opportunity for engineers

for research centers to participate in

645

00:36:19,929 --> 00:36:25,539

the global, search for better solutions

that can reduce impacts that can reduce

646

00:36:25,539 --> 00:36:29,669

costs and that can make this industry,

ever more sustainable moving forward.

647

00:36:30,149 --> 00:36:31,569

So it's really quite wide.

648

00:36:32,199 --> 00:36:35,499

Now we are very conscious that

things will not happen by themselves.

649

00:36:35,899 --> 00:36:37,789

They happen if we make them happen.

650

00:36:38,519 --> 00:36:42,672

So, um, Apart from mapping, we are

committed, and that was part of

651

00:36:42,672 --> 00:36:46,312

the discussions and the commitments

we have made during this trip.

652

00:36:46,892 --> 00:36:51,982

We are very much committed to

work with the global companies

653

00:36:51,982 --> 00:36:53,382

and with the local supply chain

654

00:36:54,084 --> 00:36:57,084

Michelle: What all this means is that

blue flowed getting established in the

655

00:36:57,084 --> 00:37:01,434

straight area will not only support many

local businesses, but will also drive

656

00:37:01,434 --> 00:37:03,894

the creation of new local businesses.

657

00:37:04,644 --> 00:37:08,274

To help us get a deeper understanding

of how projects like blue float,

658

00:37:08,364 --> 00:37:12,564

bare head, and ever wind will impact

existing companies in the Strait area.

659

00:37:13,011 --> 00:37:14,001

I talked to one of them.

660

00:37:14,666 --> 00:37:18,526

Peter: My name is Peter Murphy

and I am the contract manager for

661

00:37:18,536 --> 00:37:23,016

Spitzer Canada, based in Halifax as

our main office, but our operation

662

00:37:23,016 --> 00:37:24,736

is here in the Strait of Canco.

663

00:37:25,245 --> 00:37:28,785

Michelle: Switzer is wholly owned

by the AP Moeller Maersk group.

664

00:37:29,115 --> 00:37:32,865

Maersk is a container line and one of the

biggest shipping companies in the world.

665

00:37:33,375 --> 00:37:36,225

Switzer is the largest

tugboat company in the world.

666

00:37:36,956 --> 00:37:39,746

They're Canadian presence is

relatively small, for now.

667

00:37:39,746 --> 00:37:42,296

Anyway, with three tugs in the Strait of

668

00:37:42,296 --> 00:37:42,836

Kanso.

669

00:37:43,376 --> 00:37:46,976

They've been here since 2010, when

they want a contract with new star.

670

00:37:47,396 --> 00:37:50,546

And then they establish more of a presence

by serving port Hawkesbury, paper,

671

00:37:50,606 --> 00:37:52,526

Martin Marietta, and Nova Scotia power.

672

00:37:52,526 --> 00:37:53,096

as well.

673

00:37:53,606 --> 00:37:58,226

But things took an interesting turn when

Neustar sold their terminal to ever wind.

674

00:37:58,987 --> 00:38:03,087

Peter: so, um, whenever wind purchased

the terminal, um, the Switzer, uh,

675

00:38:03,137 --> 00:38:06,929

tugs and the contract came along

with that, and we've, uh, continued to

676

00:38:06,929 --> 00:38:08,819

provide a good service to the terminal.

677

00:38:09,119 --> 00:38:13,652

we have aligned goals in terms of, a

green, uh, energy transition, Switzer

678

00:38:13,652 --> 00:38:18,522

and Maersk are committed to, uh,

greening of the fleet and, to be, uh,

679

00:38:18,585 --> 00:38:20,295

good corporate citizens in that regard.

680

00:38:20,645 --> 00:38:23,145

So we have a great

relationship with Everwind.

681

00:38:23,485 --> 00:38:27,115

Um, our goals are aligned and, uh,

it's very exciting for the future.

682

00:38:27,874 --> 00:38:30,694

Michelle: One of those aligned

goals is to quite literally

683

00:38:30,694 --> 00:38:32,614

combine both of their products

684

00:38:33,135 --> 00:38:38,155

Peter: we locally here have signed an

MOU with Everwind to develop the first

685

00:38:38,155 --> 00:38:43,895

ammonia powered tug and so we're very

excited we're working with them to to

686

00:38:43,895 --> 00:38:49,385

develop that tug and that technology And

to participate in in the greening of The

687

00:38:49,385 --> 00:38:51,475

world and in this local area right here

688

00:38:52,365 --> 00:38:57,513

in terms of, uh, our decarbonization,

goals, um, we have, a program called

689

00:38:57,563 --> 00:39:00,863

EcoTow and you could look this

up, uh, on the Spitzer website.

690

00:39:01,087 --> 00:39:03,990

Where, uh, we provide,

green, uh, tug solutions.

691

00:39:03,990 --> 00:39:08,430

And right now, the primary fuel we're

burning there is, uh, called HVO.

692

00:39:08,430 --> 00:39:14,043

And it's basically biofuel, uh,

sourced from, only used, oils.

693

00:39:14,053 --> 00:39:16,383

So it could be French fry

oil, but it has to be used.

694

00:39:16,433 --> 00:39:20,953

And so we have, uh, some of our operations

in the UK are 100 percent carbon free.

695

00:39:21,529 --> 00:39:22,269

Michelle: Oh, very cool.

696

00:39:22,834 --> 00:39:26,581

But I guess on a, on an efficiency

perspective, is there, is there sort of a

697

00:39:26,581 --> 00:39:29,021

preference for the, um, the green ammonia?

698

00:39:29,419 --> 00:39:31,991

Peter: Well, you know,

there's only so much biofuel.

699

00:39:32,319 --> 00:39:34,829

I guess it's, you know,

it's, it's a finite resource.

700

00:39:34,839 --> 00:39:40,229

So, uh, really the future fuels are,

are certainly methanol, ammonia.

701

00:39:40,329 --> 00:39:44,263

I mean, we are, and Maersk are,

have built methanol fueled ships.

702

00:39:44,750 --> 00:39:47,900

but ammonia is, is, uh, something

a little bit newer, especially

703

00:39:47,900 --> 00:39:49,330

in a tugboat application.

704

00:39:49,820 --> 00:39:53,195

But, We are very excited to do this

because it really is a super green

705

00:39:53,195 --> 00:39:55,995

fuel and my own personal feeling

is that this may be the winner

706

00:39:56,325 --> 00:39:57,965

in the green fuels in the future.

707

00:39:58,396 --> 00:40:01,606

Michelle: Peter expects that Spitzers

local involvement with offshore,

708

00:40:01,606 --> 00:40:05,626

wind and green hydrogen will only

grow as the industry expands.

709

00:40:06,177 --> 00:40:09,417

Peter: we certainly are hopeful for

growth and we are, and we do keep

710

00:40:09,417 --> 00:40:13,497

in contact with all of the, uh, the

major players, uh, in the industry,

711

00:40:13,587 --> 00:40:15,617

uh, to be able to provide a service.

712

00:40:15,867 --> 00:40:19,557

That's, that's part of Switzer's goal

is, uh, sustainable marine services

713

00:40:19,557 --> 00:40:20,937

and how can we help our customers?

714

00:40:20,947 --> 00:40:21,627

What do they need?

715

00:40:22,077 --> 00:40:26,577

And we listen to our customers very

carefully, um, and, uh, to try and work

716

00:40:26,577 --> 00:40:30,877

with them to, uh, to promote, uh, the

economic benefits, uh, in the strait.

717

00:40:31,462 --> 00:40:36,797

Michelle: are you also planning for,

or thinking of expanding beyond, uh,

718

00:40:37,197 --> 00:40:39,740

tugboats, you know, 'cause Maersk

has, you know, sorts of expertise.

719

00:40:39,800 --> 00:40:41,980

So, um, is, is that in the future?

720

00:40:42,727 --> 00:40:43,107

Peter: Right.

721

00:40:43,157 --> 00:40:48,684

So, um, I can only speak to Spitzer,

uh, but I certainly in my conversations

722

00:40:48,684 --> 00:40:53,274

with some of my colleagues down south

and, uh, in the organization, uh, about

723

00:40:53,274 --> 00:40:57,444

the wind opportunities, uh, Maersk

has, uh, a division that It deals with

724

00:40:57,444 --> 00:41:00,594

wind, wind energy, wind development,

offshore wind I'm talking about.

725

00:41:01,394 --> 00:41:05,774

And so, uh, yeah, it's, uh, it's

something that I'm, I know is being

726

00:41:05,774 --> 00:41:09,724

looked at and, and I know we'll

be, be involved with, uh, for sure.

727

00:41:10,454 --> 00:41:10,534

Michelle: Hmm.

728

00:41:10,894 --> 00:41:11,054

Interesting.

729

00:41:11,114 --> 00:41:14,339

And, what aspect of offshore

wind are they involved in?

730

00:41:15,009 --> 00:41:17,029

Peter: Right, that would be in

the initial construction phase.

731

00:41:17,029 --> 00:41:19,962

So we have specialized ships

to install wind turbines.

732

00:41:20,262 --> 00:41:23,452

And then of course there's, once they're

installed, there's a servicing aspect.

733

00:41:23,772 --> 00:41:28,322

And so we, we do A to Z, uh, MERS

can provide all of those services.

734

00:41:28,957 --> 00:41:31,557

Michelle: so obviously you've

got your, your big contracts,

735

00:41:31,877 --> 00:41:32,837

and your big customers.

736

00:41:33,555 --> 00:41:36,479

you're also part of a, a supply

chain and there are companies that

737

00:41:36,479 --> 00:41:37,959

you, you work with and buy from.

738

00:41:37,959 --> 00:41:40,479

Could you talk a little bit

about those companies in area?

739

00:41:41,237 --> 00:41:42,047

Peter: yeah, sure.

740

00:41:42,057 --> 00:41:46,880

So, uh, you know, we, we have, extensive

relationships with local companies, uh,

741

00:41:47,250 --> 00:41:51,030

both on the, uh, the supply of goods

and services to the tugs and that's

742

00:41:51,030 --> 00:41:56,030

everywhere from, uh, uh, groceries

and, and, uh, other products, uh,

743

00:41:56,070 --> 00:41:57,700

paint products, et cetera, for the tug.

744

00:41:58,880 --> 00:42:03,740

We also deal a lot with various companies

that provide welding services, fabrication

745

00:42:03,740 --> 00:42:06,680

services, uh, technology services.

746

00:42:06,680 --> 00:42:10,720

So, it's very important that we have

those services, uh, locally as well

747

00:42:10,730 --> 00:42:14,610

for us to, to operate and, uh, and we

have some very good suppliers here.

748

00:42:15,055 --> 00:42:17,475

Michelle: And do you feel like you,

you have everything you need in the

749

00:42:17,595 --> 00:42:20,875

straight area, or maybe not literally

everything, but most of whatever you need.

750

00:42:21,306 --> 00:42:23,317

Peter: you know, everything

is here pretty much.

751

00:42:23,327 --> 00:42:27,017

I mean, you, you know, there always

can be more and, and we think that

752

00:42:27,027 --> 00:42:31,617

that's coming as, as things develop

here and, uh, you know, more and

753

00:42:31,637 --> 00:42:36,127

more trades, more, uh, technological

services that can exist here.

754

00:42:36,657 --> 00:42:40,587

It's just a function of how big the marine

industry and the other industries develop

755

00:42:40,587 --> 00:42:42,897

here that those, those will come on board.

756

00:42:43,699 --> 00:42:46,549

Michelle: So now that's Peter and

Carlos who are saying that there are

757

00:42:46,549 --> 00:42:50,329

a lot of opportunities coming down the

pipeline with this emerging industry.

758

00:42:50,929 --> 00:42:53,089

That includes if you're

a small business owner.

759

00:42:53,389 --> 00:42:55,699

Or maybe you're not even a

small business owner yet.

760

00:42:55,699 --> 00:42:57,919

Just someone with

entrepreneurial aspirations.

761

00:42:58,249 --> 00:43:00,199

There's some opportunity for you to.

762

00:43:00,889 --> 00:43:02,689

We're going back to Amanda and Brenda.

763

00:43:03,019 --> 00:43:05,659

Who say that the supply chain

opportunities, aren't just

764

00:43:05,659 --> 00:43:09,409

about big companies providing

big service to big industry.

765

00:43:09,949 --> 00:43:11,929

Amanda illustrated with a story.

766

00:43:12,689 --> 00:43:16,529

Amanda: one of the great examples I saw

of that when we traveled to Denmark to,

767

00:43:16,529 --> 00:43:20,809

to wind Europe, we took an opportunity

to tour the p the port of Esbjerg, and,

768

00:43:21,069 --> 00:43:24,409

um, you know, touring the port, we were,

you know, the c e o was giving us sort

769

00:43:24,409 --> 00:43:26,689

of a rundown on the lay of the land.

770

00:43:26,829 --> 00:43:31,249

And, and what struck me was that every

one of the Niels that were lined up,

771

00:43:31,469 --> 00:43:35,769

um, ready to be deployed to, to an

offshore wind firm was sitting on a

772

00:43:35,769 --> 00:43:40,569

metal stand and that metal stand was

fabricated by a local company in the

773

00:43:40,569 --> 00:43:42,769

community, and that's their business.

774

00:43:43,809 --> 00:43:48,109

So, so if you think about, you know,

that that fabrication opportunity didn't

775

00:43:48,109 --> 00:43:50,229

exist before the this industry did.

776

00:43:50,596 --> 00:43:52,696

you know, that's supply

chain support as well.

777

00:43:52,916 --> 00:43:55,296

So it's not all about big, big, big.

778

00:43:55,356 --> 00:43:58,616

It can also be about small business

and, and well big opportunities

779

00:43:58,756 --> 00:43:59,896

for small businesses, right?

780

00:44:00,036 --> 00:44:03,876

So, I think we have a lot to

learn on, on the supply chain.

781

00:44:04,116 --> 00:44:06,836

I, you know, I can tell you, I

think we have some in place now,

782

00:44:07,056 --> 00:44:09,156

But I think there's a

lot of room for growth.

783

00:44:09,886 --> 00:44:12,426

so I would encourage people to

put their entrepreneurial hats

784

00:44:12,426 --> 00:44:14,226

on as, as things start to unfold,

785

00:44:14,941 --> 00:44:16,321

Michelle: And there's services too, right?

786

00:44:16,741 --> 00:44:17,161

Mm-hmm.

787

00:44:17,311 --> 00:44:18,561

,

just, not just manufacturing.

788

00:44:18,631 --> 00:44:23,411

Like, divers locally who can like,

go under the boats and, fix a

789

00:44:24,021 --> 00:44:26,681

Amanda & Brenda: Um,

it, you know, uh, yeah.

790

00:44:26,681 --> 00:44:29,561

And, uh, ocean, we hear a lot

ocean safety, like . Yeah.

791

00:44:29,701 --> 00:44:33,681

We hear a lot from, um, you know,

our current, uh, developers around

792

00:44:33,681 --> 00:44:36,521

human resource management, you

know, so there's a whole industry

793

00:44:37,031 --> 00:44:38,561

that, you know, that's emerging

794

00:44:39,273 --> 00:44:41,853

Michelle: Definitely lots of

opportunities out there, but

795

00:44:41,853 --> 00:44:44,703

before these entrepreneurial

opportunities can come to fruition.

796

00:44:45,033 --> 00:44:47,553

First, the big pieces

need to come together.

797

00:44:48,071 --> 00:44:51,281

Carlos is confident that this industry

is going to get off the ground.

798

00:44:51,701 --> 00:44:54,611

But he does warn that there are

going to be some ups and downs and

799

00:44:54,611 --> 00:44:56,141

we shouldn't be discouraged by that

800

00:44:56,686 --> 00:44:59,546

Carlos: We've talked about all

the potential and I've tried to

801

00:44:59,546 --> 00:45:02,736

convey the idea that this is a

massive opportunity because we

802

00:45:02,736 --> 00:45:03,426

believe it's a massive opportunity.

803

00:45:04,549 --> 00:45:06,899

But we shouldn't forget

There's going to be problems.

804

00:45:06,899 --> 00:45:08,189

There's going to be many hurdles.

805

00:45:08,802 --> 00:45:12,132

I am an optimistic, but an optimistic

is not somebody who believes

806

00:45:12,132 --> 00:45:13,562

that problems will not occur.

807

00:45:14,042 --> 00:45:17,232

An optimistic is somebody who believes

that those problems will be overcome.

808

00:45:17,942 --> 00:45:21,932

And the only way to overcome that

is by working together and, uh,

809

00:45:21,932 --> 00:45:23,741

in a, in a very trustful manner.

810

00:45:24,337 --> 00:45:28,477

there will be problems, there will be

difficulties, there will be conflicts.

811

00:45:28,916 --> 00:45:29,726

Uh, that is okay.

812

00:45:29,726 --> 00:45:33,641

That is perfectly normal so far

as you managed to address those.

813

00:45:34,290 --> 00:45:36,160

the first projects are always

the most difficult ones.

814

00:45:36,658 --> 00:45:41,622

They are more difficult to develop because

you're learning and you have to address

815

00:45:41,622 --> 00:45:47,032

many issues that eventually will not be

repeated in the second or third projects.

816

00:45:47,542 --> 00:45:50,812

But for that second or third project to

happen, we need to make sure that the

817

00:45:51,952 --> 00:45:56,069

local communities perceive this as a

force for good, and they can perceive

818

00:45:56,069 --> 00:45:57,659

that they benefit from these developments.

819

00:45:58,239 --> 00:46:02,815

That will be the best proof

of success in the job we do.

820

00:46:03,555 --> 00:46:08,325

Michelle: It has taken 46 minutes,

46 tightly edited minutes.

821

00:46:08,687 --> 00:46:12,197

to get through everything that's

happening behind the scenes to build

822

00:46:12,197 --> 00:46:16,157

an offshore, wind and green hydrogen

industry in the straight area.

823

00:46:16,491 --> 00:46:17,211

It's a lot.

824

00:46:17,760 --> 00:46:18,540

Let's circle back.

825

00:46:18,540 --> 00:46:22,110

One more time to Amanda and Brenda,

I gave them an opportunity to

826

00:46:22,110 --> 00:46:25,604

provide some closing words on how

they're feeling about the future.

827

00:46:25,724 --> 00:46:26,894

Of the straight area.

828

00:46:27,417 --> 00:46:28,407

Brenda: we're so excited.

829

00:46:29,217 --> 00:46:32,817

. We're like, oh, we can't wait to talk

to Michelle Sampson to talk about

830

00:46:32,817 --> 00:46:33,977

the future of the straight region.

831

00:46:34,117 --> 00:46:37,567

Anyway, so of course we're, super

optimistic, uh, about the future.

832

00:46:38,107 --> 00:46:41,630

You know, we know there's still

a lot of, to cover to make sure.

833

00:46:42,289 --> 00:46:46,699

that we are are, you know, partnering

with as many as we can, making

834

00:46:46,699 --> 00:46:47,939

sure it's an inclusive process.

835

00:46:48,332 --> 00:46:51,162

We're continuing to try our

best to recruit, uh, new

836

00:46:51,162 --> 00:46:52,482

members to, to the task force.

837

00:46:53,142 --> 00:46:56,810

Um, you know, we do have some like, groups

that we'd like to get in front of still,

838

00:46:57,190 --> 00:47:01,630

uh, you know, but, but at the end of the

day, we're really excited, uh, to see

839

00:47:01,630 --> 00:47:07,590

what the future holds and we really want

to maintain, uh, our historic place, as

840

00:47:07,667 --> 00:47:09,710

being the energy hub of the province.

841

00:47:09,810 --> 00:47:13,990

And, you know, maybe that can be

of, uh, the Atlantic region and

842

00:47:14,110 --> 00:47:15,950

potentially of the whole nation.

843

00:47:16,477 --> 00:47:18,904

Amanda: from my perspective

in Richmond County, we, you

844

00:47:18,904 --> 00:47:20,184

know, we have come a long way.

845

00:47:20,714 --> 00:47:24,236

my message to constituents right now is

I think we can be cautiously optimistic.

846

00:47:24,266 --> 00:47:26,066

It's safe to be cautiously mm-hmm.

847

00:47:26,942 --> 00:47:30,949

one of the reasons that I'm excited

is because of what this is gonna

848

00:47:30,949 --> 00:47:34,069

mean for our communities and

our ability to reinvest in them.

849

00:47:34,762 --> 00:47:36,242

know we've had a declining population.

850

00:47:36,242 --> 00:47:38,002

We kind of leveled off in the last census.

851

00:47:38,622 --> 00:47:41,300

Um, anecdotally we feel

more people have moved home.

852

00:47:41,360 --> 00:47:43,477

We we're looking forward

to the next count on that.

853

00:47:43,477 --> 00:47:43,837

Mm-hmm.

854

00:47:44,057 --> 00:47:47,997

. Um, but at the end of the day, when you

have a stagnant population and your costs

855

00:47:48,097 --> 00:47:50,437

are increasing, unless you are looking

856

00:47:51,177 --> 00:47:54,757

at significant economic

development moves like this mm-hmm.

857

00:47:54,937 --> 00:47:58,917

, um, your, your taxes are going up

and your cost of living is going up.

858

00:47:58,917 --> 00:48:00,077

There's no way around it.

859

00:48:00,457 --> 00:48:03,717

Um, because we, we have budgets,

just like I have a household budget.

860

00:48:03,737 --> 00:48:04,837

We have a municipal budget, right?

861

00:48:04,837 --> 00:48:05,077

Mm-hmm.

862

00:48:05,157 --> 00:48:09,333

, it's, nasty reality of, of living

in rural communities is we, we have

863

00:48:09,403 --> 00:48:11,413

very limited financial resources.

864

00:48:11,513 --> 00:48:16,013

So, so that's one of the reasons I'm

really feeling positive about the future

865

00:48:16,393 --> 00:48:18,373

and what it's gonna enable us to do.

866

00:48:18,473 --> 00:48:18,893

Mm-hmm.

867

00:48:19,033 --> 00:48:23,773

, um, on, on the cultural side, on the

sport and recreation side, absolute.

868

00:48:23,773 --> 00:48:27,693

And like all of the things that

make this a really great place

869

00:48:27,913 --> 00:48:30,887

to live, you know, or could make

it an even better place to live.

870

00:48:31,523 --> 00:48:36,263

you know, I, I put it in, in a, in

a, a phrase the other day and got

871

00:48:36,263 --> 00:48:38,983

a, got a good laugh outta somebody

I was speaking to, but really this

872

00:48:38,983 --> 00:48:40,503

work is about Sunday dinner, right?

873

00:48:41,053 --> 00:48:43,823

It's about making sure that

your kids and your grandkids.

874

00:48:44,108 --> 00:48:47,088

Our home and living room, we're

close enough by that they can

875

00:48:47,088 --> 00:48:51,488

come over for Sunday dinner or

lunch or mimosas or whatever it

876

00:48:51,488 --> 00:48:52,488

is you're gonna have with them.

877

00:48:52,488 --> 00:48:52,768

Right.

878

00:48:53,348 --> 00:48:56,368

You know, it's, it does, it's,

it's really about bringing families

879

00:48:56,568 --> 00:48:58,980

together bringing them home, bringing,

you know, keeping them together.

880

00:48:59,040 --> 00:49:02,043

And you know, I, I was having a

conversation with somebody the other day

881

00:49:02,063 --> 00:49:05,744

who works in a very traditional industry

and he, he said, well, I'm not too sure

882

00:49:05,744 --> 00:49:09,819

about this, but maybe there'll be some

opportunities for my kids you know?

883

00:49:10,099 --> 00:49:10,299

Absolutely.

884

00:49:10,299 --> 00:49:13,219

And maybe that, maybe I'll be able to

see my grandkids on a regular basis

885

00:49:13,399 --> 00:49:16,059

and, and really that's, you know, that's

what we're trying to achieve here.

886

00:49:16,059 --> 00:49:16,419

Mm-hmm.

887

00:49:16,901 --> 00:49:18,241

Michelle: Uh, you guys

are gonna make me cry.

888

00:49:18,756 --> 00:49:19,866

Amanda & Brenda: Where

are you living right now?

889

00:49:20,666 --> 00:49:21,066

Michelle: I'm home.

890

00:49:21,292 --> 00:49:21,852

was in Ontario.

891

00:49:22,152 --> 00:49:22,532

I'm back.

892

00:49:23,272 --> 00:49:23,852

Oh, thank God.

893

00:49:24,252 --> 00:49:25,812

we were like booking your plane tickets.

894

00:49:25,912 --> 00:49:26,412

If not

895

00:49:28,897 --> 00:49:30,517

Ah, it's good to be home.

896

00:49:31,537 --> 00:49:32,977

Before closing this out.

897

00:49:33,037 --> 00:49:38,407

I want to pass along a couple final

final messages from Amanda and Brenda.

898

00:49:38,857 --> 00:49:42,607

first is a huge thank you to the

current members of the Strait of

899

00:49:42,607 --> 00:49:44,887

canso, offshore wind task force.

900

00:49:45,397 --> 00:49:49,837

Second is that they encourage you,

the public ,to reach out for more

901

00:49:49,837 --> 00:49:54,037

information on what's happening with

this industry and how it will affect you.

902

00:49:54,518 --> 00:49:58,568

There's a link to the task force webpage

in the show notes with contact details.

903

00:49:58,568 --> 00:49:59,348

for both Brenda.

904

00:49:59,648 --> 00:50:00,248

And Amanda.

905

00:50:00,818 --> 00:50:04,928

The show notes are also where you can

find links for blue float and Switzer.

906

00:50:05,605 --> 00:50:09,355

Thanks again, to our episode

sponsor, bear, head energy.

907

00:50:10,118 --> 00:50:12,128

Next time on invest in Cape Breton.

908

00:50:12,179 --> 00:50:14,969

We're tackling a very hot topic.

909

00:50:15,410 --> 00:50:17,330

housing and development.

910

00:50:17,926 --> 00:50:20,536

Hit the follow button to

be notified when it drops.

911

00:50:21,436 --> 00:50:25,826

Our theme music is under my skin

by Glace Bay's own Elise Aeryn.

912

00:50:26,686 --> 00:50:29,862

Invest in Cape Breton is produced

by storied places, media, , a

913

00:50:29,923 --> 00:50:33,897

proudly Cape Breton owned business

operated by me, Michelle Samson.

914

00:50:34,287 --> 00:50:35,127

Thanks for listening.