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Nova Scotia is becoming one of the greenest provinces in Canada. It is in the process of transforming from its former fossil fuel base, to renewable energy, and tidal power from the Bay of Fundy is playing a key role.

Five years ago the province established targets to move to renewable energy with the first benchmark of 25 per cent by 2015 already achieved. The next is 40 per cent renewable by 2020.

Michel Samson, the province’s energy minister, announced an “enhanced environmental monitoring program” yesterday, to assess the effect tidal energy may have on the fish in the Bay of Fundy, in consultation with Fisheries and Oceans Canada, as well as First Nations, independent scientific experts and representatives from local fisheries

With a force unmatched around the world, the tides that flow through the Bay of Fundy can support the development of clean, renewable power and a new Nova Scotia industry, estimated to be worth up to $1.7 billion.

Since 2007, when the province first commissioned a strategic environmental assessment of the Bay of Fundy, we have sought input from communities, fishermen, small businesses, scientists and tidal developers to shape our plans. This input helped to inform Nova Scotia’s Marine Renewable Energy legislation, a regulatory framework produced in advance, and in support of, commercial development. Supporting regulations will set clear rules for new development.

Announced in Budget 2016, the $197 million investment will bring real benefits to Canadians by allowing Fisheries and Oceans Canada to make more informed decisions about our oceans, waterways and fisheries while also creating job opportunities in science.

As part of this investment, Fisheries and Oceans Canada will undertake our largest single recruitment toward restoring ocean science. The Department will hire 135 research scientists, biologists, oceanographers and technicians through a national recruitment campaign. Job postings will be available online on Jobs.gc.ca in the coming days.

The NEB has released the report Canada’s Energy Future 2016: Province and Territory Outlooks. This report provides an overview of the regional dynamics in Canada’s Energy Future 2016: Energy Supply and Demand Projections to 2040 (EF 2016). It reviews EF 2016 findings and data points for each province and territory, and provides comparisons for energy production and consumption trends between the regions.

Nova Scotia is making plans to ensure it can meet its renewable energy targets in 2020 no matter what happens to the $9.2 billion Muskrat Falls hydroelectric project in Labrador, says the province's energy minister.

Nova Scotia has set a goal of obtaining 40 per cent of its electricity from green sources by 2020 -- with Muskrat Falls expected to provide slightly less than 10 per cent of the province's overall needs once it's online.