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

Join Marine Renewables Canada (MRC) for a free in-person information session on May 28th in conjunction with the Port of Sydney’s Ports Day focused on opportunities in offshore wind spurred from regional and global development.

Through presentations and discussion, this session will explore findings from the Atlantic Canada Wind Energy Supply Chain Assessment, commissioned by MRC and led by Xodus Group. The study outlines supply chain needs, gaps, and opportunities for local businesses to engage in the growing offshore and onshore wind sector. Participants will also learn how MRC is supporting supply chain growth through targeted initiatives and international business development activities that help companies build capacity, access new markets, and establish strategic partnerships.

Information Session Highlights

  • The Global and Regional Outlook: Gain perspective on the current status of offshore wind development worldwide, and how Canada and the region fit into the picture.
  • Supply Chain Needs & Opportunities: Understand where gaps exist, what capabilities are required, and where local suppliers can get involved.
  • Strategic Pathways for Development: Explore key recommendations from the supply chain assessment on how to strengthen local participation, grow the workforce, and expand capabilities.

Who Should Attend?

  • Local suppliers, service providers, business leaders, and organizations with existing expertise in renewable energy, ocean industries, or those looking to expand into the industry.
  • Community leaders involved in renewable energy and economic development.
  • Indigenous businesses and communities looking to explore new opportunities in the rapidly growing offshore wind energy market.
Register Here!

Second Series of Offshore Wind Information Sessions (2024)

We are excited to release our What We Heard Report that is focused on our second series of Offshore Wind Community Information Sessions delivered across Unama’ki – Cape Breton in collaboration with our partner Net Zero Atlantic in December 2024.

This second series of sessions gave the Cape Breton Partnership an opportunity to return to communities to share the findings from the first series of sessions and gather more feedback and questions from communities. That information was gathered and analyzed to identify key themes and areas of focus for communities. This report provides a background of the work that has been done to date to and highlights the topics that are important to communities that we have identified through ongoing dialogue.

We hope that this report and future work can continue to elevate voices in Unama’ki – Cape Breton as we work together towards a sustainable future.

Download Report

For the What We Heard Report following up on our first round of engagement in 2023 and early 2024, please click 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.

Download Report

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