Green Energy Engagement Program

The Cape Breton Partnership established the Green Energy Engagement Program to focus on meaningful community engagement, creating ongoing dialogue and equitable knowledge exchange that helps communities build capacity and make informed decisions about future green energy projects, including wind energy and green fuels.

Updates

Fall 2024 Offshore Wind Community Information Sessions

The Cape Breton Partnership and Net Zero Atlantic invited community members to our Offshore Wind Community Information Sessions across Unama’ki – Cape Breton from November 12 to December 4, 2024.

The second set of sessions was a continuation of Net Zero Atlantic’s project funded in part through the Smart Renewables and Electrification Pathways program by Natural Resources Canada, and the Cape Breton Partnership’s Green Energy Engagement Program.

Our teams provided community members with an opportunity to learn up-to-date information about offshore wind and continue to share their thoughts. We will continue to amplify voices across Unama’ki – Cape Breton by compiling the feedback obtained into reports that will be shared with decision-makers.  

First Series of Offshore Wind Information Sessions (2023-2024)

What We Heard Report

This report provides a summary of the diverse feedback we obtained from 11 communities across Unama’ki – Cape Breton during our first round of offshore wind community information sessions in collaboration with Net Zero Atlantic. The community feedback is organized into themes that include climate change mitigation; energy end-use and grid challenges; offshore wind technology; environmental impacts; local economic and social impacts; co-existence of ocean users; and governance and regulatory frameworks.

Our valued partner, Net Zero Atlantic, has also released a report to share what they’ve learned from Mi’kmaw communities and rural communities across Mi’kma’ki. You can view their full report here.

Offshore Wind Community Engagement Survey Report

The Cape Breton Partnership and Net Zero Atlantic ran a community engagement survey from June to August 2023. The purpose of the survey was to identify the ways in which communities would want to be engaged with. Engagement is most effective when it is done in a way that people would want to participate and have equal access to those opportunities. The survey was advertised at local Cape Breton Partnership events across Unama’ki – Cape Breton, as well as social media, e-blasts, and digital billboards.

Key Objectives

The key objectives of the Green Energy Engagement Program are centered around ongoing dialogue with communities across Unama’ki – Cape Breton and building organizational capacity within the Partnership. The key objectives are as follows:

Provide people in Unama’ki – Cape Breton with information related to green energy through different forms of media, to keep communities informed and involved in any future development tied to green energy.

 

Build capacity within the Cape Breton Partnership to undertake larger-scale engagement efforts to work toward social acceptance and support for future development.

Establish a Community Of Practice (COP) with organizations conducting education and engagement throughout Unama’ki – Cape Breton and develop strategic and coordinated engagement strategies that reach all communities across the Island.

Focus on relationship development with First Nations Communities, fishers and ocean users, local businesses, academic leaders, environmental groups, non-profits, tourism operators, and individual community members to account for all voices in Unama’ki – Cape Breton when considering the potential benefits and impacts of future offshore wind and green fuels production.

Program Details

To learn more about the Green Energy Engagement Program, please review the document below:

Other Supports

Cape Breton Partnership and Net Zero Atlantic Offshore Wind Information Session Presentation

Want to learn more?

Please contact:
Jennifer MacNeil, Green Energy Engagement Coordinator
jennifer@capebretonpartnership.com