Canada and the United States Sign Memorandum of Understanding on Offshore Wind Power Transmission Cooperation

en.Wedoany.com Reported - On October 28, Nova Scotia, Canada and Vermont, United States signed the Memorandum of Understanding on Transmission Cooperation and Regional Grid Integration, planning to carry out three-year cooperation on offshore wind development, power transmission planning, and regional grid interconnection, and to explore feasible pathways for delivering offshore wind resources from Nova Scotia to the New England region of the United States.

Under the memorandum, the two sides will share experience in grid interconnection strategies, regional system reliability assessment, advanced grid modeling, and transmission corridor development, and will coordinate with other Canadian provinces, other U.S. states, regional transmission organizations, and grid planning agencies to advance cross-border transmission planning and technical research. The cooperation also involves regulatory policy coordination, stakeholder engagement, and public participation.

The memorandum specifically proposes that the two sides will study expanding the cross-border transmission functions of the Highgate converter station in Vermont. This facility is a high-voltage direct current converter station connecting Canada and the New England grid, and existing power can be transmitted in both directions. The two sides plan to assess the technical feasibility, regulatory requirements, costs, market impacts, and siting conditions of delivering offshore wind power from Nova Scotia to the New England region through new or upgraded Highgate converter facilities with adapted capacity, and may seek to gauge industry interest in participation through a non-binding request for information.

This cooperation is linked to Nova Scotia's Wind West offshore wind development concept. Nova Scotia hopes to expand potential offshore wind consumption markets by expanding cross-border transmission corridors; Vermont hopes to increase clean electricity sources and enhance power supply reliability through regional energy cooperation. Both sides believe that cross-border grid collaboration is expected to create conditions for renewable energy development, regional energy security, and related infrastructure investment.

The memorandum takes effect on October 28, 2026, remains valid for three years, and may be renewed for another three years upon consultation.