by Dan Roscoe, President of Renewall
For many of us, energy in Nova Scotia was something abstract. We paid our power bills. We filled our tanks. We absorbed the rising costs when global markets shifted. But we didn’t shape where our energy came from. We didn’t control what it cost or who profited.
Now, a new energy era is taking shape in Nova Scotia, and this time, it belongs to the people who live here. Clean energy is giving us the chance not just to change how we power our lives, but to change who benefits from that power. And we have the chance to do it on terms that reflect our values — fairness, resilience, independence, and respect for the communities and land that sustain us.
We are experiencing a shift in how we think about energy at the most basic level. Instead of sending billions out of province each year to import fossil fuels, we have the opportunity to generate reliable, affordable electricity from our own natural and renewable resources. Instead of depending on volatile global fuel markets, we can build a system that gives Nova Scotians greater control over their own costs and future. And instead of continuing a pattern where decisions are made far from the people they affect, we can build an energy economy that is anchored in local benefit and local stewardship.
The old energy model was based on distance — energy extracted elsewhere, managed elsewhere, priced elsewhere. Consumers were passive. Energy was something done to communities, not with them. That model is already showing its weaknesses: price instability, geopolitical risk, supply chain vulnerability. A new model is emerging, built around distributed renewables, community participation, and long-term value that stays closer to home. It’s a model where Nova Scotians have more choice in how they power their homes and businesses, and more say in how their communities grow and thrive.
One of the persistent myths about clean energy is that it’s unreliable. In reality, wind in particular is already a significant part of Nova Scotia’s grid, providing stable electricity today. With smart investments in storage, grid modernization, and diversified renewable sources, clean energy is not only reliable — it is essential for creating a more resilient system. Technologies have evolved. What matters now is the willingness to scale what works where it works, rather than clinging to systems designed for an era that is already behind us.
Energy independence in Nova Scotia is not a distant ambition. It is within reach. Every year, more than $5 billion leaves Nova Scotia to pay for imported fuels. That is a staggering amount of local wealth lost — money that could otherwise be circulating in local businesses, supporting new industries, and stabilizing household costs. Building a local renewable energy economy isn’t just about cleaner electricity. It’s about economic sovereignty. It’s about insulating Nova Scotians from the shocks and price swings that come when our energy future is tied to decisions made half a world away.
Equally important is the opportunity to design a more equitable energy system. Clean energy development must not simply replace fossil fuel infrastructure without changing who it benefits. It must prioritize community benefit agreements, partnerships with Mi’kmaw Nations, access for rural and underserved communities, and fairer energy pricing models that reward participation, not just consumption. Energy equity is not automatic — it has to be built into the foundations of the transition, through policy, planning, and meaningful consultation at every stage.
There is a pride that comes from building something better, and building it together. When you know your electricity comes from the ridgelines you see on your drive to work, or from the offshore winds that have shaped your community for generations, energy becomes tangible. It becomes personal. Clean energy projects are already creating real work for Nova Scotians — from skilled trades to environmental monitoring to research and development — and that work is the foundation of an economy that doesn't leave rural communities behind.
The new energy era in Nova Scotia will not be handed down from somewhere else. It will not arrive fully formed through distant mandates. It will be shaped here, by the choices we make and the values we insist on. If we get it right, it will be about more than megawatts. It will be about building a future that reflects who we are — and who we aspire to be.
It’s a new age of Renewall. And it belongs to all of us.
Dan Roscoe is the President of Renewall Energy, a renewable energy provider, and CEO of Roswall Development, a renewable energy developer, both based in Halifax, Nova Scotia. His work is focused on building the infrastructure for a cleaner, smarter energy future across Canada and beyond.
