Nova Scotia is playing a leadership role in a clean energy project that will harness renewable energy from the Bay of Fundy. Up to $20 million from the Clean Energy Fund will be utilized for Nova Scotia's demonstration of tidal in-stream energy converters in the Minas Passage.

"Investments in clean energy projects like this one will help ensure Nova Scotia plays a key role in securing Canada's position as a clean energy superpower," said the Honorable Peter MacKay, Minister of National Defense. "Our government is supporting this tidal project, and others like it, to encourage clean energy innovation and help create high-quality jobs for Nova Scotians."

The project is Canada's first deployment of commercial-scale tidal turbines. It will investigate how four submarine cables function, including their reliability to deliver electricity to Nova Scotia's power system and the operational functions of the equipment that is connected to the submarine. The information gathered will be analyzed and used to enhance future research for tidal energy and energy regulations. The four cables will give the Fundy Ocean Research Centre for Energy (FORCE) the largest offshore transmission capacity of any in-stream tidal energy site in the world, with the potential capacity to power over 20,000 homes.

"FORCE applauds the government's vision and commitment to an energy future where clean technology can play a role," said FORCE Chairman John Woods. "By 2011, any tidal device installed at FORCE will be able to deliver power directly to the grid. The size of the cable also gives us room for significant growth, if tidal technology proves to be both safe and viable in the Bay of Fundy."