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.

2

We're having an economic Renaissance.

3

Carlos: we believe that Nova

Scotia can be, the battery of.

4

Canada,

5

Michelle: Throughout the series we'll

show you why there's never been a

6

better time to invest in Cape Breton.

7

Amanda: I've been using the word

transformative and a good friend of used

8

the term nation building opportunity.

9

This is as big as the railway

10

Michelle: welcome back

to invest in Cape Breton.

11

I'm your host, Michelle Samson.

12

In this third episode,

sponsored by bear head energy.

13

We're exploring the transformative

offshore, wind and green energy

14

projects in the Strait of Canso.

15

The Strait of Kanso is the water body that

separates mainland Nova Scotia from the

16

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

17

And until 70 years ago, water

flowed freely through it.

18

People and goods had to cross it by ferry.

19

But then a massive infrastructure

project connected the two sides

20

for vehicle and train traffic.

21

It wasn't a bridge, but a Causeway

made of 10 million tons of rock blasted

22

from adjacent porcupine mountain.

23

An unintended consequence of that project

was to create the world's deepest ice-free

24

port right on the great circle route

and thus an industrial hub that can be

25

served by the world's largest ships.

26

That industrial legacy has

seen its ups and downs.

27

But many local players who are in

the know are saying that the trend

28

is swinging upward and expected

to reach an unprecedented high.

29

The driving force behind it is the

global movement toward decarbonization.

30

As discussed in episode two,

about the port of Sydney.

31

Una McGee Cape Breton is home

to a world-class wind resources.

32

And that opportunity is going to be tapped

here on the south coast of the island to.

33

As someone who is raised in the straight

area, Richmond county in particular.

34

The conversations I had for this

episode were incredibly exciting.

35

I almost couldn't believe what's coming.

36

But the guests I interviewed are,

as in the know, as they come.

37

To government leaders and to corporate

leaders who are on the ground and

38

ushering in this new green economy.

39

Let's start with the government leaders

40

Amanda: name is Amanda Mombourquette

and I am a community innovation

41

lead with the Nova Scotia Community

College and an elected official,

42

the warden of Richmond County.

43

And I'm here in my role today

as a co-chair of the Straight of

44

Canso Offshore Wind Task Force.

45

Brenda: Hi, my name is

Brenda Chisholm-Beaton.

46

I am mayor of the Town of Port

Hawksbury and I'm also here representing

47

as a co-chair for the Strait of

Canso offshore Wind Task force.

48

Michelle: Amanda.

49

And Brenda are lifelong residents

of the area and throughout their

50

careers have been working to create

good conditions for investment.

51

I asked them to share a high

level view of the areas.

52

Key assets.

53

Brenda kicks it off, followed by Amanda.

54

Brenda: I always love to talk

about . our multimodal transportation

55

hub here in the strait.

56

Uh, so we have a airport

five minutes away.

57

We have rail.

58

I think the, the rail that goes,

uh, to point tupper is the, the last

59

rail line, uh, going to the island.

60

Uh, we also have, of course, excellent

road connectors, I can't stress

61

enough the importance of our IceFree

deep water port And of course, uh, I.

62

Love being, uh, a cheerleader as

well for the, uh, Marine Institute

63

and the Nova Scotia Community

College, uh, here in Hawkesbury.

64

But

65

Amanda: I'll just maybe build on what

Mayor Brenda was saying around the, the

66

deep water harbor here it is capable

of accommodating the world's largest

67

fully laden, uh, ultra large carriers.

68

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

weight ton vessels that we can

69

accommodate And that's not the

case, uh, for a lot of other, other

70

ports on the eastern seaboard.

71

we do have designated Anchorage

here, so, which allows, uh,

72

transloading and trans shipment.

73

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

uh, the management of the straight

74

of cancer Super Port Corporation,

which is an incredible asset.

75

They do a great book of business

and we are central here to

76

offshore resources as well.

77

Right.

78

And so having had the experience of the

Sable offshore and, and, uh, building

79

on that experience, and not just from

an infrastructure perspective, but

80

also from a relationship perspective

and, and, uh, you know, understanding

81

that we need to be building

relationships with other stakeholders

82

and rights holders in the region.

83

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

think, in the straight of cancer.

84

Um, that sort of sets us apart and.

85

It's been interesting.

86

You know, personally I've been talking

about these competitive advantages that

87

we've had for the last two decades.

88

Yeah.

89

And now to see industry interested in

locating here and telling me about the

90

comparative advantages, I feel like a

little bit like I've won the lottery

91

or that my messages out there in the

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

92

very gratifying to see it coming back.

93

Michelle: These compelling assets have

drawn large companies, including, but not

94

limited to long-time corporate residents,

Port Hawkesbury Paper, Martin Marietta and

95

Nova Scotia power as well as newer players

in offshore, wind and green energy.

96

Like Ever Wind Fuels and Bear head energy.

97

For all of the above, another competitive

advantage that has been resonating.

98

Is that the area is pro-growth and

friendly to industrial development.

99

Amanda says this isn't marketing spin.

100

It's been true for a long time.

101

Amanda: we've had a culture of welcoming

industry here for many decades.

102

You know, if we look back to the

establishment of the Point Tupper heavy

103

Industrial Park, the Milford Industrial

Reserve in Guysborough County, you know,

104

there were some pretty forward thinking

councils and, and local leadership

105

making these kinds of decisions.

106

And, you know, frankly, the, the benefit

has been that industry has located here.

107

So if you, if you get on a boat

in the strait of cancel and you,

108

you sail up and down it, you are

gonna see a lot of private sector

109

investment along those shores.

110

so it cannot state enough how important

that, that, you know, that readiness is

111

when companies come knocking on the door.

112

And

113

Brenda: Uh, absolutely.

114

The only thing that I would add, uh,

in addition to all the great comments

115

Amanda has made is the, the great

efforts from local leadership as well.

116

Mm-hmm.

117

, um, political leaders, business leaders,

know, we have a really strong chamber

118

of commerce as well, you know, that,

really lends to that openness and

119

preparing, uh, our region for, for growth.

120

Michelle: On top of these favorable

conditions ever wind and bear head

121

also found great sites in point

Tupper that were already serviced

122

and had existing infrastructure.

123

That made locating here

as easy as possible.

124

Amanda: And I think, you know, with

ever wind and bear head, you know,

125

both looking at the point Epper area

in particular and looking at the heavy

126

industrial park there, the assets

that were in that park, um, really are

127

second to none, ever wind's purchase

of the New Star facility, um, you know,

128

gave them an immediate footprint here.

129

It's, it was absolutely,

part of the reason.

130

Why they've chosen to, to locate here,

um, was because of the quality of that

131

facility and the potential that it has to

support moving away from, fossil fuels and

132

moving into a more clean energy future.

133

And certainly from bear head's

perspective, the incredible investment

134

that had gone into the, uh, former

Anadaco site, that represents tens

135

of millions of dollars right there.

136

Mm-hmm.

137

, um, in terms of, you know, why

they would choose to locate here.

138

So we, we did have some very unique,

assets that were, part of the mix

139

in making these two companies in

particular choose, uh, point upper.

140

Michelle: And there's more land available.

141

Amanda & Brenda: and there is

more and there's more Ville

142

.

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

143

real projects because there's real

dollars like real investment Yeah.

144

Uh, going into our region and have

gone into our region and continue

145

to be invested in our region.

146

You know, so that's how we

know this, this is happening.

147

It's not a matter of if,

it's a matter of when.

148

Amanda: there are tens of millions

of dollars being invested in a very

149

fast, by companies who, who are

driven frankly by leaders that if they

150

can't make this happen, no one can.

151

Right?

152

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

strong, uh, group of folks that

153

ha that have decided to push

these, these projects forward.

154

I look at the ever win project,

I look the inclusion of Potlotek

155

and, um, Membertou and Paqtnkek

equity partners in the project.

156

Yeah.

157

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

concrete action that's being

158

taken by one of these developers.

159

And, and Bear Head has been doing

some, you know, excellent, you

160

know, partnership development

their, Nations partners as well.

161

So it really speaks to, I

think, the commitment of the

162

teams behind these projects.

163

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

of commitment that, I think is, fairly

164

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

165

'cause you gotta keep in mind

these Clean fuels projects weren't

166

announced 5, 6, 10 years ago.

167

They, they've been announced

within the last two years.

168

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

timeline of progress that's happened

169

already and a lot of money being

invested right here in our communities

170

Michelle: So with that foundation

of geographic assets, existing

171

infrastructure, and a culture of

collaboration, the straight area is poised

172

to scale its energy sector to new Heights.

173

While, this region has been

powering Nova Scotia for the

174

better part of a century soon.

175

That could be powering

much more than that.

176

Here's Amanda.

177

Amanda: when I think about the part

that we have the opportunity to play

178

on a global stage, to export clean

energy to some of the regions that

179

need it the most, that are energy

starved, that are, that are currently

180

getting their energy from an unethical

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

181

Uh, an incredible opportunity

that we get to meet this climate

182

imperative, but also this social

imperative right around responsible

183

energy production and consumption.

184

And so, uh, like I really, I see

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

185

uh, uh, in the energy sector and of

course in fields that will support tho

186

that sector such as, supply chain type

businesses, marine services and shipping.

187

it really is mind boggling to think

about the opportunities ahead.

188

Um, I think the other thing that,

you know, we are gonna be poised for

189

growth in is on the manufacturing side.

190

Because once we are at a point where

our levelized cost of energy for

191

clean energy is at a very competitive

rate, um, it's gonna attract ma more

192

manufacturing interest in this region.

193

And if you think about our history in the

past on Cape Breton Island with, you know,

194

steel and, and that type of thing, right?

195

We, there's an opportunity for us

to be, I think, uh, looking at.

196

Green manufacturing in a whole new way,

um, that will set us apart from a lot

197

of other locations in North America.

198

Michelle: So far in this conversation,

we've talked about clean energy

199

and hinted that this growth and

development will be powered by wind.

200

Particularly offshore, wind.

201

But why wind rather than

another kind of green energy.

202

One of the biggest factors may come

as no surprise to some Nova Scotia

203

has offshore wind speeds that are

some of the best in the world.

204

Amanda: to give you some perspective,

Michelle, you know, when Mayor Brenda

205

and I attended the, uh, the, wind Europe

conference in Copenhagen a couple of

206

months back, you know, we were talking

with a lot of folks who were looking

207

at, uh, offshore wind development.

208

And, I think there was some, a group

from Korea in particular, like some,

209

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

about, you know, six to seven meters per

210

second, uh, in terms of their wind speeds.

211

And when we are starting to talk about

ours being between 10 and 11, you know,

212

they are very envy of us very quickly.

213

Absolutely.

214

Because it's, just an incredible

opportunity for return on investment.

215

Um, when you look at installing

these types of infrastructure,

216

it's, expensive work, right?

217

Mm-hmm.

218

. And so knowing that we've got that wind

to support the return is a big, big deal.

219

Brenda: Yeah.

220

No, Amanda's correct.

221

Michelle: so I mean, Cape Breton has

always been windy, and yet It seems like

222

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

we're talking so much wind energy.

223

So what has been the catalyst?

224

Like what has changed to really

bring this to the forefront?

225

Amanda: I'll jump in and just start by

saying, you know, a number of years ago

226

there was a private company that had kind

of brought this opportunity to, uh, to my,

227

my attention to Mayor Brenda's attention.

228

We know, just, it was pointing to

the opportunity around capturing

229

some of that offshore wind resource.

230

Um, and so I know both of our councils

at the time issued letters of support.

231

Mm-hmm.

232

, um, you know, in principle,

I, I would say for mm-hmm.

233

, you know, for this kind of discussion

or exploration into this industry.

234

Um, around the same time as well,

you know, we started to hear a

235

little bit about uh, person in

our community from Dundee, um,

236

who, who's now living in Denmark.

237

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

owned by Scott Urquhart, and he had been

238

doing some research into, of course,

. That region is far ahead of us, right?

239

Mm-hmm.

240

in terms of, they're about

30 years ahead of us in terms

241

of developing this resource.

242

So he had been doing some research into

the wind regime in this region, and,

243

uh, we started to kind of hear about,

what the opportunity could look like.

244

It really led to the municipalities

kind of getting together with, um, you

245

know, the Chamber of Commerce and other

stakeholders and rights holders to say,

246

look, this is, this is bigger than any

one of us is gonna be able to handle.

247

So let's form this task force.

248

So right now our task force has

got over 30 signatories, uh,

249

multiple municipal, uh, units.

250

Uh, we've got provincial and

federal reps at that table.

251

We've got First Nations

communities at that table.

252

Fishers, um, you know, other in

industry supply chain businesses.

253

It's a diverse collection of folks

who are interested in advancing the

254

sector and, and doing so responsibly.

255

So, absolutely.

256

Yeah.

257

So it, it was a question from industry,

but also some really, um, and unbiased

258

research from, you know, from a company

that has had decades of experience in

259

this and who also happens to have a

particular interest in Cape Breton Island.

260

'cause he's from here.

261

So Exactly.

262

The stars aligned

263

Michelle: thanks to that catalyst

and local buy-in the wind resource

264

and the expertise to leverage it

is now here in the straight area.

265

Just how.

266

How big is the opportunity.

267

Here's Amanda again.

268

Amanda: I've been using the word

transformative and a good friend

269

of ours who, helped to uh, get the

task force started, has used the

270

term nation building opportunity.

271

That's what this is.

272

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

273

this is as big as it gets because

we are in a position little Cape Red

274

Island has been an energy hub for

our province for nearly a century.

275

We are in a position now to

become an energy globally, and

276

that is an exciting prospect.

277

So know, when we started to understand

what the resource, uh, was looking

278

like in terms of offshore wind

opportunity, um, we realized immediately

279

this could be transformative.

280

You know, we are, we're staring

down the barrel of, elimination of

281

coal, energy production by 2030.

282

Um, we know there are lots of jobs

in this region that depend on that.

283

Right now.

284

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

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

285

I think we had a, environmental

responsibility to do so as well.

286

Um, so, so we began to lobby the

provincial government in particular, but

287

also the federal government, um, as a task

force to take a look at this opportunity.

288

Seriously.

289

To publicly state that they are

interested in exploring this

290

opportunity because without that

public statement and that public

291

discourse that would follow, you know,

really nothing was going to get done.

292

Um, and so we were really gratified

to be recognized, I think.

293

Absolutely.

294

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

an announcement, uh, September or two ago.

295

Yes, talking about, you know, yes,

we, we are interested in this and

296

establishing a goal of having, uh,

five gigawatts, uh, in, in the waters

297

right, in the, in the coming years.

298

And so that was a huge,

huge step forward for us.

299

Um, I think without the work of the

task force particularly the diversity

300

of the membership of the task force,

I'm not sure we would have been as

301

effective in that advocacy work.

302

Michelle: Nation building opportunity.

303

Wow.

304

Right.

305

The Strait of canso,

offshore wind taskforce.

306

We'll be making sure

that the opportunities

307

don't come at the expense

of something else.

308

Like residents, existing

industries, or the environment.

309

Further, there'll be making sure

that the opportunities are inclusive

310

so that no one is left behind.

311

The task force has already been very

busy with more than 50 presentations to

312

municipal and first nations councils,

and community groups under their belts.

313

These presentations are about

educating stakeholders, as well

314

as listening to what they have to

say, and addressing their concerns.

315

For example, they heard concerns about

whether green hydrogen production

316

would deplete local water resources.

317

Brenda.

318

And Amanda want to ensure residents

that the municipalities won't

319

be taking any chances on that.

320

They're confident that green hydrogen will

use much less than the heavy water plant.

321

That the utility and the watershed

were able to accommodate in the past.

322

But they're still doing a

new study just to be sure.

323

Let's take a quick break

to learn about this

324

episode sponsor their head energy is one

of north America's only fully permitted

325

green, hydrogen and ammonia sites.

326

They have been working closely with

local communities and Mi'kmaq nation's

327

for nearly two decades and look forward

to continuing to build relationships and

328

bringing economic benefits to the region.

329

Bear had energy is a wholly owned

subsidiary of BAES infrastructure, a

330

diversified energy company, focused

on developing, constructing, and

331

operating energy transition projects.

332

Learn more and sign up to receive

updates at bearheadenergy.ca.

333

So far in this episode, we've

heard about bare head energy and

334

ever wind, But there's another

player in the straight area.

335

That's looking to harness

our wind resources.

336

Carlos: So I am Carlos Martin, I

am the CEO of Bluefloat Energy.

337

Spain based blue float energy

is a relatively new but fast

338

growing developer that specializes

entirely in offshore wind.

339

They have projects in 10 different

markets on three continents.

340

They quietly arrived in the Strait area a

couple of years ago with ambitious goals.

341

Carlos: Well, our goals in the, in the

Strait of Canso region is really to set

342

up the offshore wind industry in Canada.

343

Uh, we believe there's a major potential

for offshore wind development in the

344

region, both because there's a fantastic

wind resource world class, uh, that is

345

a source of, of wealth for the region.

346

And we are keen on, uh, helping the

local communities harnessing this power.

347

But we believe that beyond that,

there's also some very good

348

opportunity to transforming.

349

Uh, the local economy, uh, to

industrialize the area, build new

350

capabilities that are able to deliver

those projects and go beyond the

351

boundaries of Nova Scotia or even

Canada and, uh, develop a hub for

352

offshore wind development in the whole,

uh, northeastern part of America.

353

our aspiration is to be the leader in the

development of the market in Nova Scotia.

354

We are perceived as the most reliable

and committed company in the province.

355

Creating an offshore wind industry

in Canada will be a long road.

356

they're aiming to complete the first

project by the end of this decade.

357

But even the longest

roads start somewhere.

358

For blue float.

359

Their first step in any new market is

to put boots on the ground and build

360

trust with the local communities.

361

Carlos: We like to engage early.

362

We like to be present early in the

development of our projects, because

363

the only way for projects to be

successful and sustainable is by,

364

uh, being connected with, um, the

different local stakeholders and,

365

Serving for a common purpose of social,

environmental and economic development.

366

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

all the municipalities, uh, the

367

administration, but also meeting other

very important groups like First Nations,

368

fishermen, and so on and so forth.

369

To explain what our plans are but

more importantly, to listen from

370

them what their aspirations are

and what they can advise us on how

371

to turn these projects successful.

372

Michelle: An interesting thing to note

in regards to the fishing industry,

373

blue float, won't just be learning about

it through their engagement efforts.

374

They also have some internal expertise.

375

Stephen Graham, their stakeholder manager.

376

I used to be a fishermen and

comes from a fishing family.

377

So he has knowledge of

how the industry works.

378

As for the first nations communities.

379

Blue flow does taking extra

steps to meaningfully engage.

380

with them.

381

Carlos: First Nations, as I was

commenting before, are, uh, very

382

important for the success of this project.

383

we are, developing these projects

in a land that has, a very long

384

history, and they concentrate.

385

The knowledge about that history.

386

there's so much we can learn from

their traditions, their stories.

387

we need to incorporate that

into into our developments.

388

It's very interesting because

we have a presence in 10

389

different markets worldwide.

390

Um, many of these markets

have indigenous communities,

391

I was in July in New Zealand

and Australia met also with the,

392

communities in New Zealand with,

um, traditional owners in Australia.

393

And.

394

It's very interesting that all these

communities have shared values around

395

the respect for the elders, the

importance of tradition, the importance

396

of the oral tradition, the attachment

to the cultural heritage, and a very

397

special relationship with nature.

398

The concept of nature is probably

different than the ones we have in

399

our, societies today, one of our, of

our counterparties remarked that our

400

own tradition in Europe, for example,

used to be very connected to them

401

to nature that the old Greeks had a

very similar connection with nature.

402

So

403

it has been a bit lost.

404

due to industrialization, but it's good

to go back to the roots and consider

405

nature as our own mother, our own father.

406

and.

407

We wouldn't do harm to our own family.

408

So, it's a long, relationship

we need to develop, uh, with

409

those, uh, First Nations.

410

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

trust built over time by commitment, by

411

listening, by exchange of, perspectives,

but it's definitely based on listening

412

and that's what exactly what we are doing.

413

Michelle: Across all of the groups

they're engaging with, blue float

414

is hearing some common themes.

415

Carlos: so we're hearing strong messages

about, aspiration of doing, um, not so

416

just something that can be beneficial for

the economic development of the region.

417

But, creating something which

can support the global effort,

418

um, against climate change.

419

Uh, can be a force of good,

uh, for the regional, the, um,

420

national and the world economy.

421

But we have also heard about

concerns, because everybody wants

422

to, uh, develop this industry in

a very environmental and conscious

423

manner and socially conscious manner.

424

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

425

Incorporated into the way we do things

from the outset, and we are, we are

426

very much committed to continuing this

dialogue and to make sure that all

427

these projects can be done in a very

respectful manner with the existing.

428

Uh, activities, economic activities,

including fishing with the cultural

429

heritage, especially for First

Nations and in such a way that the

430

local communities can definitely

benefit from these developments.

431

Michelle: Is addressing these

concerns something that is, um,

432

within, current technology and, you

know, are there unknowns about it?

433

Or, is it maybe safer than people think?

434

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

less impactful that some people fear.

435

And, um, the good thing about this

dialogue is that it's a very good

436

way of, um, communicating both

sides of educating each other, both

437

on the existing activities and on

how these new technology works.

438

And that first step is already,

uh, very productive because

439

many of the fears that exist.

440

dissipate relatively fast.

441

because, people realize that it's less

impactful than they had feared initially.

442

Just to give an example, people, when

they think about offloading, think

443

they're going to see a huge turbine.

444

Next to the coast.

445

Well, that's not the case.

446

Termites are very far away.

447

They are seldom visible and, um, and

the visual the same happens with, um,

448

fishing, for example, in which many times

people fear that it's going to be very

449

harmful for, um, for the local ecosystems.

450

It's usually the opposite.

451

It's usually a good

shelter for many species.

452

Uh, over time experience from other

markets show that there's a potential for,

453

uh, bigger catches and more life to, to,

to grow around these, these wind farms.

454

Now The conclusion we've come, not

just here, but in other markets is

455

that there's always good solutions,

technical solutions to address problems.

456

That's usually not the big issue

when developing these projects.

457

The bigger issue is understanding

what are the concerns, what

458

are the potential impacts.

459

And for that purpose, this early phase

of engagement is absolutely critical

460

because what we're doing right now

is to map What are the implications,

461

the impacts, the interactions that

need to be taken into account during

462

the development of our projects?

463

When you understand those very

clearly at the beginning, there's

464

always ways of addressing that.

465

Through design, through new technologies,

through location, and so forth.

466

But if you don't listen to these

concerns early on, then it's

467

very difficult to address them.

468

And changing things when projects are

already advanced is almost impossible.

469

Michelle: we were curious about, whether

you're going to, um, approach community

470

benefit in a similar way as in Europe,

where, developers of offshore and onshore

471

wind projects often commit to providing

a fixed amount per kilowatt hour into

472

a fund that community groups can use

for socioeconomic development projects.

473

Are there any plans to do

something like that here?

474

Carlos: we've already talked

about, The importance of having a

475

important, social, positive social

effect on the local communities and

476

our commitment for delivering that.

477

So, that commitment is there and there's

multiple ways of, achieving that goal.

478

We only discuss about.

479

Replicating formulas at work

elsewhere, because every local

480

community is different, have different

needs, different aspirations.

481

So, yeah, there's good case examples,

but we, we always avoid copycatting

482

what has been on elsewhere.

483

That usually doesn't work.

484

you really need to start from scratch

everywhere and start by listening.

485

What is the aspiration from the local

communities that we're doing right now?

486

And then we will develop together.

487

formulas that can achieve

a positive social impact.

488

Sometimes it's a fund.

489

Sometimes it's about, investing

on training more than just

490

providing, uh, those funds.

491

Sometimes it's about,

dedicating a shared effort for.

492

I'm inventing, but for protecting the

environment or for addressing any social

493

issue which is specific to this area.

494

So again, the commitment is there,

we will find formulas for that social

495

impact to happen, but we are not of

the opinion that just copying what has

496

worked somewhere else will work here.

497

I will be very cautious about it.

498

So the first step for Carlos and for

blue float is to engage and that dialogue

499

won't just be limited to this phase.

500

It will continue throughout the project's

development, construction and operation.

501

As for when the next

phase will be triggered.

502

That's going to be a political decision.

503

Carlos: as soon as the government,

uh, approves legislation that

504

allows to secure seabed leases.

505

We will move into a phase of

consenting, environmental consenting.

506

We need to analyze all the potential

impacts on the local ecosystems,

507

local species, local activities,

and it's not just about environment,

508

it's also about, the social impact.

509

Thank We need to, uh, explain how the

project will impact these activities,

510

how we're gonna make sure that the

impact is limited to the minimum,

511

and if there's any, um, mitigation

measure to be implemented, what

512

type of mitigation, uh, measures

513

All that is reviewed by, um, um, state

agencies that, uh, scrutinize every

514

single aspect of the project before.

515

Getting to any approval, which always

comes with a number of mitigation

516

measures to be to be implemented.

517

That's very important to highlight because

the fact that is definitely not a free

518

check to do whatever we want at sea.

519

And in parallel to this,

we will be developing the

520

technical solution, engineering.

521

So that eventually we are able to

finance these projects and execute

522

them, uh, to supply clean power

to the, to the Nova Scotians.

523

Michelle: what's the, the scale of

what you're hoping to accomplish?

524

Carlos: Yeah, we always, we always

question about putting figures here

525

because it really depends on how good we

do things, when we, we prepare for that.

526

But it's very significant.

527

We're talking about thousands

of potential new jobs, not only

528

doing construction, but operate.

529

The operation phase is

also very people intensive.

530

We need, people to, operate the vessels

that allow us to get to the wind farm.

531

We need people to.

532

I maintain the wind

farms to supervise them.

533

Usually these wind farms have a control

center that works 24 7 So yeah, the

534

operational phase will require also

tens if not hundreds technicians.

535

And all that is adding to

the to the previous figure.

536

I think is worth mentioning.

537

in a business like energy

that has traditionally been

538

more a male industry, we want.

539

Renewables and offshoring

in particular to be.

540

Uh, a very diverse and equal sector

that can attract all the talent from,

541

different profiles and definitely

gender equality is absolutely critical

542

for attracting the best talent.

543

Blue float needs a huge workforce of

thousands of people because they're

544

Amy to produce a huge amount of energy.

545

Carlos: the metric we're using

for the capacity of these

546

wind farms is the megawatt.

547

And for a province that today has

around 3, 000 megawatts of installed

548

capacity, mostly coal generation

capacity, what we're trying to achieve

549

is at least One, 1,500 megawatts of

offshore wind development replacing

550

that coal generation capacity and

hence, dramatically reduce c o

551

two emissions in the province.

552

But that's just the first step.

553

Um, in the longer run, we believe that

Nova Scotia can be, the battery of.

554

Canada, but also the

battery of other countries.

555

We've recently seen the visit of

the German sensor to Canada with a

556

very high topic on the agenda, which

is the supply of green hydrogen.

557

Everywhere in the world.

558

Green hydrogen and offshore

wind go hand in hand.

559

Everybody knows that these two

industries will develop together.

560

They are very different,

but very complementary.

561

when you thinking about green

hydrogen, you're looking for

562

massive green, affordable.

563

power, and that's exactly what also we

can deliver in Nova Scotia beyond this

564

first phase that I was commenting before.

565

There's the potential to develop many

more megawatts in the future that can

566

feed in green hydrogen plants, and

there's different projects already on the

567

development in the state of council, um,

so that, uh, hopefully one day soon Nova

568

Scotia can be one of the big exporters

of green hydrogen to fuel the global

569

economy in a very sustainable manner.

570

Michelle: If green hydrogen wasn't

developing at the same time.

571

Would this place be less attractive

572

Carlos: The attractiveness of the

of the province is, significant

573

extent linked to green hydrogen.

574

Um, but in order to attract big

investments, you need to have a longer

575

perspective about, new developments, these

will not all come from the green hydrogen.

576

When I say green hydrogen, I would like to

forget other energy intensive industries.

577

This is probably the more visible

ones, but there's also potential for

578

other types of, green commodities like

Uh, anything from steel, aluminum or

579

fertilizers, just to give a few examples.

580

So all that provides a longer

term perspective about, new

581

developments that is very important

to justify these investments.

582

There's also the possibility, although

that is more subject to the political will

583

on, on the two countries to connect the

province to, um, the northeast of the U.

584

S.

585

That would make a lot of sense

because the potential for...

586

Green power export is huge, and there's

a need, there's a demand for that power

587

in states like Massachusetts, Rhode

Island, or Connecticut, but, um, that

588

is always tricky, there needs to be a

very strong political will to get there.

589

We are part of the initiatives to

sponsor these type of interconnections,

590

but we are conscious they will

take some time to materialize.

591

Michelle: Here in the straight area,

at least the political will and the

592

culture of collaboration is strong.

593

Carlos experienced it for himself during

his first visit to the Strait area.

594

This fall.

595

The cornerstone of that visit was a

ceremony where blue floats signed an

596

MOU with the Cape Breton partnership

and joined the straight area

597

chamber of commerce and the Strait

of canso offshore, wind taskforce.

598

It was also an opportunity

to meet many stakeholders.

599

Face-to-face.

600

Carlos says the visit made a big

impression on him and was a turning

601

point for blue floats relationship.

602

With the area.

603

Carlos: That was a fantastic attendance,

And it was quite amazing to see everybody

604

from, uh, regional ministers, majors,

leaders of of Industry associations.

605

First Nations representatives were

blessed by the presence from, um, Elder

606

Marshall, who made a fantastic speech

talking about, learning from the mistakes

607

from the past, uh, but looking to learn

from those to create a better future,

608

looking for the next generations.

609

We had, uh, students attending

the session that were very

610

interested in learning about.

611

what are the opportunities in this sector?

612

The growth prospects

and so on and so forth.

613

And I think they went out of that

meeting with even more motivation

614

than when they arrived about

working in this in this sector.

615

So when you hear, um, the traditional,

uh, owners of the land, when

616

you hear industrials, the civil

servants, decision makers, the

617

younger generation all aligned.

618

it was a, an inspiration.

619

And I came back fully energized and

convinced that offshore wind will happen.

620

Michelle: Another way blue

float we'll be connecting to the

621

community is through a supply chain.

622

Like most companies, blue float

will need to buy products and

623

services from other local companies

in order to get things done.

624

As an emerging industry some of

what they need will be available

625

but some will have to be developed

626

Carlos: we are mapping what

is, in, the province already.

627

And there's a lot.

628

I must admit that these are

very good basis for, bigger

629

companies to source from.

630

The main potential for job

creation and value creation, in our

631

view, is on the foundation side.

632

which in offshore wind is a

big part of the investment.

633

the province has very strong

capabilities in concrete foundations,

634

I think there's many services

that can be conducted.

635

And here Nova Scotia, because it's

an Atlantic province, and it has a

636

long tradition of working at sea,

has very some capabilities in.

637

Um, in shipping, in maritime

logistics, uh, maritime operations,

638

training for health and safety in

maritime environments, which is

639

absolutely paramount for our job.

640

So all that I think are very important

I would also like to mention, uh,

641

higher skill, well, all these jobs

are highly skilled because they're

642

very specialized work, but we also

need to innovate in this industry.

643

Uh, innovation is constant.

644

So there's a big opportunity for engineers

for research centers to participate in

645

the global, search for better solutions

that can reduce impacts that can reduce

646

costs and that can make this industry,

ever more sustainable moving forward.

647

So it's really quite wide.

648

Now we are very conscious that

things will not happen by themselves.

649

They happen if we make them happen.

650

So, um, Apart from mapping, we are

committed, and that was part of

651

the discussions and the commitments

we have made during this trip.

652

We are very much committed to

work with the global companies

653

and with the local supply chain

654

Michelle: What all this means is that

blue flowed getting established in the

655

straight area will not only support many

local businesses, but will also drive

656

the creation of new local businesses.

657

To help us get a deeper understanding

of how projects like blue float,

658

bare head, and ever wind will impact

existing companies in the Strait area.

659

I talked to one of them.

660

Peter: My name is Peter Murphy

and I am the contract manager for

661

Spitzer Canada, based in Halifax as

our main office, but our operation

662

is here in the Strait of Canco.

663

Michelle: Switzer is wholly owned

by the AP Moeller Maersk group.

664

Maersk is a container line and one of the

biggest shipping companies in the world.

665

Switzer is the largest

tugboat company in the world.

666

They're Canadian presence is

relatively small, for now.

667

Anyway, with three tugs in the Strait of

668

Kanso.

669

They've been here since 2010, when

they want a contract with new star.

670

And then they establish more of a presence

by serving port Hawkesbury, paper,

671

Martin Marietta, and Nova Scotia power.

672

as well.

673

But things took an interesting turn when

Neustar sold their terminal to ever wind.

674

Peter: so, um, whenever wind purchased

the terminal, um, the Switzer, uh,

675

tugs and the contract came along

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

676

provide a good service to the terminal.

677

we have aligned goals in terms of, a

green, uh, energy transition, Switzer

678

and Maersk are committed to, uh,

greening of the fleet and, to be, uh,

679

good corporate citizens in that regard.

680

So we have a great

relationship with Everwind.

681

Um, our goals are aligned and, uh,

it's very exciting for the future.

682

Michelle: One of those aligned

goals is to quite literally

683

combine both of their products

684

Peter: we locally here have signed an

MOU with Everwind to develop the first

685

ammonia powered tug and so we're very

excited we're working with them to to

686

develop that tug and that technology And

to participate in in the greening of The

687

world and in this local area right here

688

in terms of, uh, our decarbonization,

goals, um, we have, a program called

689

EcoTow and you could look this

up, uh, on the Spitzer website.

690

Where, uh, we provide,

green, uh, tug solutions.

691

And right now, the primary fuel we're

burning there is, uh, called HVO.

692

And it's basically biofuel, uh,

sourced from, only used, oils.

693

So it could be French fry

oil, but it has to be used.

694

And so we have, uh, some of our operations

in the UK are 100 percent carbon free.

695

Michelle: Oh, very cool.

696

But I guess on a, on an efficiency

perspective, is there, is there sort of a

697

preference for the, um, the green ammonia?

698

Peter: Well, you know,

there's only so much biofuel.

699

I guess it's, you know,

it's, it's a finite resource.

700

So, uh, really the future fuels are,

are certainly methanol, ammonia.

701

I mean, we are, and Maersk are,

have built methanol fueled ships.

702

but ammonia is, is, uh, something

a little bit newer, especially

703

in a tugboat application.

704

But, We are very excited to do this

because it really is a super green

705

fuel and my own personal feeling

is that this may be the winner

706

in the green fuels in the future.

707

Michelle: Peter expects that Spitzers

local involvement with offshore,

708

wind and green hydrogen will only

grow as the industry expands.

709

Peter: we certainly are hopeful for

growth and we are, and we do keep

710

in contact with all of the, uh, the

major players, uh, in the industry,

711

uh, to be able to provide a service.

712

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

is, uh, sustainable marine services

713

and how can we help our customers?

714

What do they need?

715

And we listen to our customers very

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

716

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

economic benefits, uh, in the strait.

717

Michelle: are you also planning for,

or thinking of expanding beyond, uh,

718

tugboats, you know, 'cause Maersk

has, you know, sorts of expertise.

719

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

720

Peter: Right.

721

So, um, I can only speak to Spitzer,

uh, but I certainly in my conversations

722

with some of my colleagues down south

and, uh, in the organization, uh, about

723

the wind opportunities, uh, Maersk

has, uh, a division that It deals with

724

wind, wind energy, wind development,

offshore wind I'm talking about.

725

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

something that I'm, I know is being

726

looked at and, and I know we'll

be, be involved with, uh, for sure.

727

Michelle: Hmm.

728

Interesting.

729

And, what aspect of offshore

wind are they involved in?

730

Peter: Right, that would be in

the initial construction phase.

731

So we have specialized ships

to install wind turbines.

732

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

installed, there's a servicing aspect.

733

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

can provide all of those services.

734

Michelle: so obviously you've

got your, your big contracts,

735

and your big customers.

736

you're also part of a, a supply

chain and there are companies that

737

you, you work with and buy from.

738

Could you talk a little bit

about those companies in area?

739

Peter: yeah, sure.

740

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

relationships with local companies, uh,

741

both on the, uh, the supply of goods

and services to the tugs and that's

742

everywhere from, uh, uh, groceries

and, and, uh, other products, uh,

743

paint products, et cetera, for the tug.

744

We also deal a lot with various companies

that provide welding services, fabrication

745

services, uh, technology services.

746

So, it's very important that we have

those services, uh, locally as well

747

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

have some very good suppliers here.

748

Michelle: And do you feel like you,

you have everything you need in the

749

straight area, or maybe not literally

everything, but most of whatever you need.

750

Peter: you know, everything

is here pretty much.

751

I mean, you, you know, there always

can be more and, and we think that

752

that's coming as, as things develop

here and, uh, you know, more and

753

more trades, more, uh, technological

services that can exist here.

754

It's just a function of how big the marine

industry and the other industries develop

755

here that those, those will come on board.

756

Michelle: So now that's Peter and

Carlos who are saying that there are

757

a lot of opportunities coming down the

pipeline with this emerging industry.

758

That includes if you're

a small business owner.

759

Or maybe you're not even a

small business owner yet.

760

Just someone with

entrepreneurial aspirations.

761

There's some opportunity for you to.

762

We're going back to Amanda and Brenda.

763

Who say that the supply chain

opportunities, aren't just

764

about big companies providing

big service to big industry.

765

Amanda illustrated with a story.

766

Amanda: one of the great examples I saw

of that when we traveled to Denmark to,

767

to wind Europe, we took an opportunity

to tour the p the port of Esbjerg, and,

768

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

you know, the c e o was giving us sort

769

of a rundown on the lay of the land.

770

And, and what struck me was that every

one of the Niels that were lined up,

771

um, ready to be deployed to, to an

offshore wind firm was sitting on a

772

metal stand and that metal stand was

fabricated by a local company in the

773

community, and that's their business.

774

So, so if you think about, you know,

that that fabrication opportunity didn't

775

exist before the this industry did.

776

you know, that's supply

chain support as well.

777

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

778

It can also be about small business

and, and well big opportunities

779

for small businesses, right?

780

So, I think we have a lot to

learn on, on the supply chain.

781

I, you know, I can tell you, I

think we have some in place now,

782

But I think there's a

lot of room for growth.

783

so I would encourage people to

put their entrepreneurial hats

784

on as, as things start to unfold,

785

Michelle: And there's services too, right?

786

Mm-hmm.

787

,

just, not just manufacturing.

788

Like, divers locally who can like,

go under the boats and, fix a

789

Amanda & Brenda: Um,

it, you know, uh, yeah.

790

And, uh, ocean, we hear a lot

ocean safety, like . Yeah.

791

We hear a lot from, um, you know,

our current, uh, developers around

792

human resource management, you

know, so there's a whole industry

793

that, you know, that's emerging

794

Michelle: Definitely lots of

opportunities out there, but

795

before these entrepreneurial

opportunities can come to fruition.

796

First, the big pieces

need to come together.

797

Carlos is confident that this industry

is going to get off the ground.

798

But he does warn that there are

going to be some ups and downs and

799

we shouldn't be discouraged by that

800

Carlos: We've talked about all

the potential and I've tried to

801

convey the idea that this is a

massive opportunity because we

802

believe it's a massive opportunity.

803

But we shouldn't forget

There's going to be problems.

804

There's going to be many hurdles.

805

I am an optimistic, but an optimistic

is not somebody who believes

806

that problems will not occur.

807

An optimistic is somebody who believes

that those problems will be overcome.

808

And the only way to overcome that

is by working together and, uh,

809

in a, in a very trustful manner.

810

there will be problems, there will be

difficulties, there will be conflicts.

811

Uh, that is okay.

812

That is perfectly normal so far

as you managed to address those.

813

the first projects are always

the most difficult ones.

814

They are more difficult to develop because

you're learning and you have to address

815

many issues that eventually will not be

repeated in the second or third projects.

816

But for that second or third project to

happen, we need to make sure that the

817

local communities perceive this as a

force for good, and they can perceive

818

that they benefit from these developments.

819

That will be the best proof

of success in the job we do.

820

Michelle: It has taken 46 minutes,

46 tightly edited minutes.

821

to get through everything that's

happening behind the scenes to build

822

an offshore, wind and green hydrogen

industry in the straight area.

823

It's a lot.

824

Let's circle back.

825

One more time to Amanda and Brenda,

I gave them an opportunity to

826

provide some closing words on how

they're feeling about the future.

827

Of the straight area.

828

Brenda: we're so excited.

829

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

to Michelle Sampson to talk about

830

the future of the straight region.

831

Anyway, so of course we're, super

optimistic, uh, about the future.

832

You know, we know there's still

a lot of, to cover to make sure.

833

that we are are, you know, partnering

with as many as we can, making

834

sure it's an inclusive process.

835

We're continuing to try our

best to recruit, uh, new

836

members to, to the task force.

837

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

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

838

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

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

839

what the future holds and we really want

to maintain, uh, our historic place, as

840

being the energy hub of the province.

841

And, you know, maybe that can be

of, uh, the Atlantic region and

842

potentially of the whole nation.

843

Amanda: from my perspective

in Richmond County, we, you

844

know, we have come a long way.

845

my message to constituents right now is

I think we can be cautiously optimistic.

846

It's safe to be cautiously mm-hmm.

847

one of the reasons that I'm excited

is because of what this is gonna

848

mean for our communities and

our ability to reinvest in them.

849

know we've had a declining population.

850

We kind of leveled off in the last census.

851

Um, anecdotally we feel

more people have moved home.

852

We we're looking forward

to the next count on that.

853

Mm-hmm.

854

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

have a stagnant population and your costs

855

are increasing, unless you are looking

856

at significant economic

development moves like this mm-hmm.

857

, um, your, your taxes are going up

and your cost of living is going up.

858

There's no way around it.

859

Um, because we, we have budgets,

just like I have a household budget.

860

We have a municipal budget, right?

861

Mm-hmm.

862

, it's, nasty reality of, of living

in rural communities is we, we have

863

very limited financial resources.

864

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

really feeling positive about the future

865

and what it's gonna enable us to do.

866

Mm-hmm.

867

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

sport and recreation side, absolute.

868

And like all of the things that

make this a really great place

869

to live, you know, or could make

it an even better place to live.

870

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

a, a phrase the other day and got

871

a, got a good laugh outta somebody

I was speaking to, but really this

872

work is about Sunday dinner, right?

873

It's about making sure that

your kids and your grandkids.

874

Our home and living room, we're

close enough by that they can

875

come over for Sunday dinner or

lunch or mimosas or whatever it

876

is you're gonna have with them.

877

Right.

878

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

it's really about bringing families

879

together bringing them home, bringing,

you know, keeping them together.

880

And you know, I, I was having a

conversation with somebody the other day

881

who works in a very traditional industry

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

882

about this, but maybe there'll be some

opportunities for my kids you know?

883

Absolutely.

884

And maybe that, maybe I'll be able to

see my grandkids on a regular basis

885

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

what we're trying to achieve here.

886

Mm-hmm.

887

Michelle: Uh, you guys

are gonna make me cry.

888

Amanda & Brenda: Where

are you living right now?

889

Michelle: I'm home.

890

was in Ontario.

891

I'm back.

892

Oh, thank God.

893

we were like booking your plane tickets.

894

If not

895

Ah, it's good to be home.

896

Before closing this out.

897

I want to pass along a couple final

final messages from Amanda and Brenda.

898

first is a huge thank you to the

current members of the Strait of

899

canso, offshore wind task force.

900

Second is that they encourage you,

the public ,to reach out for more

901

information on what's happening with

this industry and how it will affect you.

902

There's a link to the task force webpage

in the show notes with contact details.

903

for both Brenda.

904

And Amanda.

905

The show notes are also where you can

find links for blue float and Switzer.

906

Thanks again, to our episode

sponsor, bear, head energy.

907

Next time on invest in Cape Breton.

908

We're tackling a very hot topic.

909

housing and development.

910

Hit the follow button to

be notified when it drops.

911

Our theme music is under my skin

by Glace Bay's own Elise Aeryn.

912

Invest in Cape Breton is produced

by storied places, media, , a

913

proudly Cape Breton owned business

operated by me, Michelle Samson.

914

Thanks for listening.