by Dan Roscoe, President of Renewall
Ninety percent of our electricity came from fossil fuels. Coal was the foundation of our grid and a symbol of economic necessity. This remarkable shift, one of the fastest energy transitions in North America, proves that when communities believe in their resources and act together, transformation is possible.
Nova Scotia’s story has long been one of hope for a better future, and that story has always had wind as a backdrop, from our seafaring past on the Atlantic to the turbines that now rise above our hills and coastlines. It's fair to describe wind as our greatest resource: abundant, seasonal, and perfectly suited to the rhythms of life in this province.
When communities develop renewables, the benefits stay close to home. Local projects mean local jobs, stable pricing, and resilience against global energy shocks.
More importantly, they reinforce a sense of identity. Clean energy becomes part of who we are, not something imposed from outside. Renewable energy, and wind in particular, provide a not insignificant glimmer of hope to people when we see that we can do big things that benefit us all and when the environment we call home powers our everyday lives.
In the early 2000s, Nova Scotia’s grid ran on more than 90 percent coal, oil, and natural gas. Few imagined that could change quickly. Yet in less than a generation, we’ve replaced most of that fossil generation with renewable sources: wind, hydro and growing solar capacity.
The result is a grid that’s cleaner, beginning to modernize, and far more resilient. Each new turbine or efficiency upgrade has brought us closer to energy independence and lower emissions.
Change at this scale, in such a short time, challenges the idea that progress must be slow. Nova Scotia proves it doesn’t.
One of the most overlooked reasons for Nova Scotia’s success is broad, sustained cooperation. Renewable energy here has enjoyed support across political lines and levels from provincial to municipal.
Programs like Efficiency Nova Scotia didn’t just lower bills, they created a culture of conservation and innovation. When clean energy becomes common ground instead of a political wedge, progress accelerates.
Hope grows fastest when everyone has a hand in building it.
From the early community wind projects of Scotian Wind to today’s distributed solar and efficiency programs, ownership and impact have remained local. Thousands of Nova Scotians now work in clean-energy and energy-efficiency roles. Every project adds value that stays within our communities, building stronger towns, not just stronger grids.
Now, with Renewall becoming Nova Scotia’s first renewable-to-retail electricity provider, that local value is reaching even further, giving households and small businesses direct access to clean, stable, locally generated power. It marks the next step in a journey that began with community wind and continues with consumer choice.
Hope, in this sense, is practical. Clean energy makes life more affordable, creates skilled jobs, and turns resilience into a shared resource.
Nova Scotia to the world
The lessons learned here are now being applied abroad. Through our parent company, Roswall, we’re helping island nations in the Caribbean develop renewable microgrids and storage systems. These regions face challenges similar to ours: isolated grids, volatile fuel costs, and a need for reliable local generation.
Nova Scotia’s clean-energy expertise is proving not only exportable but essential. Our story resonates because it’s built on practical optimism: the belief that progress can be made anywhere, by anyone willing to start.
Nova Scotia’s transformation from heavy emitter to clean-energy leader shows what’s possible when people, policy, and purpose align. A province once defined by coal is now defined by commitment to resilience, affordability, and pride of place.
Renewables provide more than electricity. They provide hope. And from Nova Scotia’s shores, that light is beginning to spread.
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.
