Vermont and Nova Scotia have signed a three-year agreement to explore bringing offshore wind power to New England, Gov. Phil Scott's office announced Oct. 28.
Scott and Nova Scotia Premier Tim Houston signed a memorandum of understanding covering offshore wind development, transmission planning and coordination with the regional electricity grid.
The agreement establishes a framework for sharing information and studying possible connections. The state announcement does not announce a power purchase, a construction approval or a date when additional electricity would reach customers.
Vermont's Highgate Converter in Franklin County connects the Canadian and New England electric grids. Scott's office identified modernization of that connection as relevant to possible future deliveries.
Scott described lower costs and more reliable electricity as goals. The announcement does not put a price on a proposed power supply or calculate customer savings. Those outcomes would depend on later project, transmission and purchasing decisions.