Harper Government Announces New Support for Renewable Energy Project and Innovation in Atlantic Canada

HALIFAX — Scott Armstrong, Member of Parliament for Cumberland-Colchester-Musquodoboit Valley, on behalf of the Honourable Joe Oliver, Canada’s Minister of Natural Resources, today announced additional support for the Fundy Ocean Research Centre for Energy (FORCE) tidal energy project. Mr. Armstrong made the announcement at the Ocean Renewable Energy Group’s (OREG) annual conference.

“Today’s announcement is welcome news for renewable energy innovation in Atlantic Canada. We are supporting new research that will help harness power from the world’s highest tides,” said MP Armstrong. “Our government’s approach to resource development means supporting innovative renewable energy technologies that create jobs and generate new economic opportunities.”

The development of a new instrumentation platform for research and development activities will benefit from this announcement of $5 million in new funding from our government. Encana Corporation ($3 million) and the turbine developers at FORCE and Ocean Networks Canada ($2 million) are matching today’s commitment by the Government of Canada for a total of $10 million.

“When it comes to designing a successful tidal turbine for the Bay of Fundy, the more we know, the better,” said John Woods, FORCE Chair and VP of Energy Development for Minas Basin Pulp and Power. “This project will take our understanding to the next level.”

This new federal funding is in addition to the $20-million contribution agreement between FORCE and the Government of Canada to build and install infrastructure for its tidal turbine test centre. Once completed, FORCE will have the largest offshore transmission capacity of any in-stream tidal energy technology demonstration site in the world, with the potential to power over 20,000 homes in Nova Scotia.