Why Atlantic Canada’s solar industry needs a collective voice

Originally published on LinkedIn. This article reflects the information and perspective at the time of the original post.

After speaking at the launch of Solar New Brunswick earlier this year, I’m honoured to be heading to Prince Edward Island next week at the invitation of Efficiency PEI to speak with their Network of Excellence solar installers about establishing a dedicated solar industry association on the Island.

The volunteer work of Solar Nova Scotia is resonating beyond provincial borders. This year, we’ve been actively engaged with solar associations across the country, and it’s clear there is a growing need for regional collaboration to advance distributed energy solutions across Atlantic Canada.

A key lesson from Nova Scotia is the vital importance of industry representation. The solar sector is largely made up of small, locally owned businesses, yet the policies that shape its future are often made without direct input from the people and companies doing the work on the ground.

In 2022, the future of solar in Nova Scotia was put at risk by proposed changes to the net metering program. But thanks to strong, unified advocacy from Solar Nova Scotia and the collective voice of the public and industry stakeholders, we successfully defended the program and protected Nova Scotians’ ability to go solar.

Distributed Energy Resources—like solar, battery storage, and demand-side solutions—are essential to the energy transition. But just as importantly, they’re tools to ensure that the benefits of the transition are widespread, reaching homes, businesses, and communities of all sizes. They help build a cleaner, more resilient grid that works for everyone, not just large-scale players.

Atlantic Canada is at its best when we work together. With transformative energy projects on the horizon, now is the time for stronger regional collaboration. I’m excited to support that work next week in PEI.