Energy management
From brain drain to clean energy opportunity: Nova Scotia’s transformation
A personal reflection on how Nova Scotia’s energy sector has changed since my engineering graduation in 2007, and the opportunities now taking shape at home.
Originally published on LinkedIn. This article reflects the information and perspective at the time of the original post.
When I graduated from Dalhousie Engineering in 2007, the outlook in Nova Scotia was pretty bleak.
An East to West pipeline of engineering talent and trades drained Halifax as professionals moved to Calgary/Fort McMurray, a trend commonly referred to as “Brain-Drain.”
Oil prices were spiking, eventually reaching $150/barrel in 2008—devastating for homes and businesses, most of which relied on imported oil for heating.
80% of our electricity came from imported coal, with most of the rest generated from imported oil and gas. People felt like they had very little control over their electricity future.
I was eager to pursue a career in energy efficiency and renewable energy, but at the time, it was a niche/fringe pursuit for an engineer, and job opportunities in the field were scarce.
Fast forward 18 years, and while there’s still plenty of work ahead, I take satisfaction in how far the province has come:
Thousands of Nova Scotians now work in the clean energy sector, holding good jobs that help make life more affordable for homes and businesses.
I regularly engage with engineering students, recent grads, and newcomers to Nova Scotia who see opportunity in the sector and want to build their careers here.
The majority of our electricity is now renewable and non-emitting, much of it produced locally—with even more renewable energy development on the way.
Oil heating is being phased out rapidly, with many Nova Scotians switching to heat pumps. Great news for a province that produces renewable electricity but not oil.
In addition to effective provincial renewable energy policies and programs, the creation of EfficiencyOne, Canada’s first energy efficiency utility, was a game changer. It allowed energy efficiency to be treated as a resource—delivering real value to ratepayers while lowering costs for homes and businesses and creating many new jobs.
The transformation in the energy system over the past two decades has been amazing. Looking forward to seeing where Nova Scotia can go in the years ahead.
