With campaign in full swing, N.S. party leaders weigh in on exporting wind energy

Candidates in the Nova Scotia election can expect some tough questions around the construction of large wind farms that would generate green hydrogen for export.

Companies, like EverWind and Bear Head Energy,have plans to build hundreds of turbines to produce hydrogen with the intent to export overseas.

"We understand people are focused on wallet issues and housing issues," said Gregor Wilson with Green Nova Scotia First.

"But Nova Scotia is trying to get off coal and fossil fuels and all these hydrogen projectsstand to slow us down from getting to it."

Green Nova Scotia First is a citizens' groupformed in response to the federal and provincial governments championing green hydrogen projects in Nova Scotia.

The projects would use renewable energy to separate hydrogen from water.

Greening the grid

Wilsonsaid the nextprovincial government should focus on reducing reliance on fossil fuels that make up about half the energy used by Nova Scotians.

"It's the definition of insanity and utter waste," said Wilson, who is concerned wind energy will be wasted with the green hydrogen projects.

The organization is asking voters to question candidates about green hydrogen issues.

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The province is aiming for 80 per cent renewable energy by 2030and net-zero emissions by 2050.

Progressive Conservative Leader Tim Houston saysgreen hydrogen projects will have a positive impact on the electricity grid.

"Somebody said to me we don't catch just enough lobsters for Nova Scotians, we catch the lobster and export them," Houston said at a campaign event. "We will be exporting energy as well."

While Houstonpaints a picture of the province becoming a powerhouse in production, the provincial Green Party leader calls it "hydrogen fever."

"I'm a little bit dubious about the extent to which there is a good export market for made-in-Nova Scotia hydrogen energy products," Anthony Edmonds said in an interview.

Edmonds said investing in renewable energy like wind is important, hydrogen use could remain limited in thefuture.

Liberal Leader Zach Churchill said his party would prioritize projects feeding into the grid.

"Tim Houston is still allowing the same amount of coal to be burnedhere in Nova Scotia as when he started three years ago, and he has committed to putting wind farms from one end of the province to the other," Churchill said in a campaign event.

"But my problem is that energy is not going to be used to bring down energy prices here in Nova Scotia or to further green our own grid."

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NDPLeader Claudia Chender said she'll have more to say about green hydrogen production proposals in the coming days. But she said it makes sense that Nova Scotians are concerned about using wind energy to export products.

"There's a huge burden on Nova Scotia to get off of coal and we don't seem to be taking that as seriously as we are some billionaires' export plans," Chender said while campaigning.

There has beenpushback againstgreen hydrogen projects, including at a town hall meeting Houston held in his own riding.

Mark Stewart, a spokesperson for EverWind, said in a statementthat the projects will deliver economic benefits, including jobs, in addition to helping in the fight against climate change.

"The wind projects developed by EverWind are in addition to what is required to eliminate coal, and our hydrogen can be used to power clean electricity generation at times when there isn't enough wind and other renewables to meet demand," said Stewart.

"Not one megawatt of EverWind's production will come at the expense of power that could otherwise be used to service the provincial grid."