Update Provided on Wind Development Process

  • Industry, Energy and Technology
  • Environment and Climate Change

July 26, 2022

The Provincial Government today provided an update on its multi-stage process to enable wind generation in Newfoundland and Labrador. This follows the announcement on April 5, 2022 of lifting the moratorium on wind development, creating an opportunity for industrial customers to generate wind energy for their own consumption and wind generation for export.

In order to ensure a fair and transparent process for all interested parties, the Department of Industry, Energy and Technology is launching a call for the submission of Nominations of Areas of Interest for wind energy projects in the province. The call is open for any available Crown lands within the province. Interested respondents are not limited to a geographic size for a given submission, or in the number of submissions. A guidelines document is available here. Nominations begin today, and close on October 1, 2022.

Following assessment of the land nominations received, a competitive land bid process will be launched later this year. While some companies may have already submitted a request for Crown lands for wind development, no Crown lands have been approved and will not be awarded until a competitive bid process occurs. More information will be available in the coming weeks.

In addition, companies are required to register wind development projects for environmental assessment; however, an environmental assessment approval does not mean that the project will proceed. An environmental assessment is not required for land nomination.

The Provincial Government launched the Province’s Renewable Energy Plan in December 2021. One of the short-term commitments in the plan was to review the wind moratorium policy on the Island Interconnected Electricity System. This was an initial step in a multi-stage process to enable wind generation in Newfoundland and Labrador.

Quotes
“Newfoundland and Labrador has some of the best wind resources in North America. My department has been engaged with a number of companies interested in exploring industrial development and we know they are anxious to get further information on the multi-stage process. As we work to develop the policies to allow wind development, we need to ensure a fair and transparent process while recognizing that this resource and these opportunities belong to the people of the province. We must ensure that any decisions we make are in the best interests of Newfoundlanders and Labradorians, now and into the future.”
Honourable Andrew Parsons
Minister of Industry, Energy and Technology

“I am pleased to see the development of alternative energy sources in this province. The level of interest in our wind and hydrogen energy potential is indicative of the role we can play in the vital global transition to a green economy. Technologies such as these will be instrumental in ensuring a sustainable energy future. All proposed projects will undergo the province’s comprehensive and rigorous environmental assessment process, which includes an opportunity for the public and interested parties to provide feedback and comments before any decision is made.”
Honourable Bernard Davis
Minister of Environment and Climate Change

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Learn more
Guidelines: Nominating Crown Lands for Wind Energy Projects

Ministerial Statement – Minister Parsons Announces End of Moratorium on Wind Development

News Release: Minister Parsons Launches Renewable Energy Plan for Newfoundland and Labrador

Renewable Energy Plan: Maximizing Our Renewable Future

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Media contacts
Kelly-Anne Roberts
Industry, Energy and Technology
709-729-5248, 327-7005
kelly-anneroberts@gov.nl.ca

Lynn Robinson
Environment and Climate Change
709-729-5449, 691-9466
lynnrobinson@gov.nl.ca

2022 07 26 2:00 pm