Can we import power from Nova Scotia wind farms?
Some have suggested laying an underwater cable to send power from wind farms off Nova Scotia to southern New England.
Adapted from Robert Whitcomb’s “Digital Diary,’’ in GoLocal24.com.
Given local opposition by some to current and proposed wind-farm projects off southern New England and the Trump administration’s dislike of wind-power projects, and, indeed, of “green energy” in general, it’s perhaps not surprising that Massachusetts officials are sounding out Canada about getting power from planned offshore wind projects around Nova Scotia.
Of course, this would pose such challenges as the need to install extra transmission capacity to bring the power to southern New England and would undermine hopes for jobs in construction and maintenance for offshore wind projects in our region. And building a transmission line on land could face the sort of pushback from powerful groups and localities that has long delayed such projects as getting more hydroelectricity from Quebec into New England.
Of course, laying a mostly underwater line would be possible but would present problems, too, perhaps including complaints from fishermen.
And would Trump seek a way to put a tariff on that electricity?
We should bear in mind that Trump’s gyrational tariffs and his threats to take over what had been such a friendly ally have created long-term distrust and animosity there toward our crazy country, which over time will do considerable economic and geopolitical damage to the United States.
Meanwhile, visits by Canadians to New England, a region our northern neighbors have long favored, continue to fall because of Trump policies.