Healey's Canadian wind effort advances

 

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Healey takes next step in bid to get in on Canadian offshore wind   November 12, 2026 By JORDAN WOLMAN

President Trump blocked Massachusetts from unlocking new offshore wind from its own coasts, dealing a crucial blow to the state’s energy transition. So Gov. Maura Healey is testing the waters to the north instead.

The Healey administration is spearheading an effort alongside other New England states to tap into work underway in the Canadian province of Nova Scotia to advance offshore wind projects there, as it eyes potential energy supply and economic benefits here at home.

Massachusetts is issuing a formal request for information with Nova Scotia to test market interest and feasibility among energy developers, supply chain companies, port entities, organized labor, utilities, and the fishing industry. Maine, Connecticut, Vermont, and Rhode Island are also participating.

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It’s just one procedural step on what would be a long road to achieving an ambitious vision of bringing energy generated by Canadian offshore wind into New England. But the move is a concrete signal of the state’s seriousness in collaborating with Nova Scotia to boost offshore wind and find a Plan B to the now-stalled domestic wind industry on which Massachusetts had been relying.

“We need more affordable, reliable energy, and that’s going to take working with our neighbors,” Healey said in a statement. “Massachusetts and Nova Scotia have a strong partnership, and we’re building on that relationship to explore new opportunities to bring offshore wind power to New England. This work has the potential to lower energy costs, strengthen our energy supply and create good-paying jobs in our port communities.”

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More Context

Massachusetts utilities, Canadian hydro company file dueling lawsuits over new transmission line (September 2026) Massachusetts offered up $35M in offshore wind tax breaks. They’ve gone unclaimed for two straight years. (October 2025)

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