Massachusetts and Nova Scotia Seek Market Input on Offshore Wind and Transmission

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts and the Government of Nova Scotia are seeking market input on the potential development of offshore wind in Nova Scotia and ways to transmit the resulting electricity to New England. Issued on November 13, 2026, the joint request for information (RFI) is an exploratory step intended to gather perspectives from organizations that could contribute to generation, transmission, and supporting infrastructure. The available announcement does not identify a project size, funding level, procurement schedule, response deadline, or contact details.

The RFI’s broad invitation encompasses offshore wind developers, utilities, transmission operators, port and supply-chain organizations, labor groups, research institutions, and environmental, fisheries, tribal, and First Nations stakeholders. That scope points to a potential regional market extending beyond wind generation itself: delivery to New England could involve transmission planning and operations, port readiness, workforce capacity, and supply-chain coordination. For contractors and suppliers, the immediate opportunity is to inform market understanding and surface capabilities—not to compete for a defined award.

The effort involves the Massachusetts Department of Energy Resources and the Massachusetts Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs alongside Nova Scotia’s government. Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey framed the prospective benefits in economic and energy-security terms: “This work has the potential to lower energy costs, strengthen our energy supply and create good-paying jobs in our port communities.” Those are stated potential outcomes, not guaranteed results or quantified commitments. The RFI provides a channel for interested organizations to describe relevant experience and identify issues that could affect feasibility.

For GovCon firms, the key distinction is between market research and procurement. No contract value, solicitation timetable, response deadline, or funded project is disclosed, so businesses should avoid treating the notice as an active bid opportunity. Firms with offshore wind, subsea or interregional transmission, port infrastructure, utility integration, workforce, or environmental and fisheries expertise can use the engagement to communicate capabilities and regional requirements. Monitoring follow-on announcements from the participating governments will be important before making bid, teaming, or investment decisions.

• Massachusetts and Nova Scotia jointly issued the RFI on November 13, 2026.
• The initiative seeks input on offshore wind development in Nova Scotia and transmission options to deliver electricity to New England.
• The request invites developers, utilities, transmission operators, ports, supply-chain organizations, labor groups, and research institutions.
• Environmental, fisheries, tribal, and First Nations stakeholders are also explicitly invited to contribute.
• The engagement spans potential generation, transmission, and supporting infrastructure markets, but no project scale is specified.
• No funding amount, contract value, procurement schedule, response deadline, or contact details are provided in the available information.
• Organizations should treat the notice as market research, not an active bid solicitation or announced contract award.
• Governor Maura Healey cited potential lower energy costs, stronger energy supply, and good-paying jobs in port communities.
• Prospective participants can communicate capabilities and identify infrastructure, workforce, supply-chain, and stakeholder considerations for future planning.
• GovCon firms should monitor subsequent government announcements for any defined project scope, funding, or solicitation milestones.