Natural Resources committee  Thank you for your question. The study we did used publicly available data to understand the comparison between offshore wind off the coast of Nova Scotia versus onshore wind projects in Nova Scotia. Our study wouldn't include an evaluation of the comparison in Newfoundland and Labrador.

Natural Resources committee  Please remember, Monsieur, that my field is science, not law or legislation, so our view would be that the offshore energy regulator is the correct body to sort out those sorts of issues. We would hope that we might be able to have an opportunity to provide some science or some data to help people make their decisions.

Natural Resources committee  An important part of the offshore wind price advantage is the size of the turbines. They can be much larger than what's possible on shore. We're seeing 16-megawatt to 18-megawatt turbines, so they are an important contributor to the price coming down. What we're seeing in the industry is that those turbines are getting bigger and bigger, so, with more and more experience, we'll continue to see the price come down.

Natural Resources committee  I think the idea of looking at the competition for investment on a global basis is very important. That's why Net Zero Atlantic supports this legislation. We think it's important to get the offshore energy regulators in place so that they can be the focal point for the discussions required by investors coming into the jurisdiction.

Natural Resources committee  Yes, there's no question about that. The offshore energy regulators are going to be an essential component to making sure there's a good regulatory process in place and we have an industry that's sustainable and inclusive going forward.

Natural Resources committee  First, on how competitive the region is, it is world-class. Everyone who has been to Atlantic Canada knows it's very windy. That's easy, but it's not just the wind. It's the combination of the wind, the sea depth and the geology. It's a very attractive area for the offshore wind industry, and I'm not sure there would really be many better areas in the world.

Natural Resources committee  Thank you, Mr. Chair. I appreciate the invitation to offer some input into Bill C-49. I am a professional engineer and the executive director of Net Zero Atlantic, which is an independent, not-for-profit research association with a mission of enabling the transition to a carbon-neutral future in Atlantic Canada.