The Atlantic Offshore Wind Coalition (AOSWC) is a partnership of the Ecology Action Centre, East Coast Environmental Law, and Sierra Club Canada.
The three environmental organizations, all based in Atlantic Canada, came together in 2024 to support the renewable energy transition by advancing responsible offshore wind development as a key part of Atlantic Canada’s clean energy future. By working together and drawing on our collective skills and experience, the AOSWC brings trusted legal, policy, and social expertise to offshore wind development in Atlantic Canada, prioritizing respect for Indigenous Peoples’ rights, meaningful engagement, ocean protection, and transparent, participatory assessment processes.
The AOSWC is committed to engaging in genuine, fact-based conversations about a future that includes offshore wind. Our work rests on three foundational pillars — Respect, Regulation, and Responsibility — guiding our decisions, engagement, and collaboration.
Respect for rights, livelihoods, ecosystems, and place.
Offshore wind development can make an important contribution to climate action and create economic opportunity – but it will not take place in an empty space. It will happen in marine and coastal environments that sustain complex ecosystems, support commercial and small-scale fisheries, and underpin the culture and livelihoods of coastal communities. These waters are subject to Indigenous rights and relationships that must be respected. Moving forward with respect will be essential to offshore wind’s success in Atlantic Canada.
Regulation that is clear, predictable, science-based, and in the public interest.
The regulatory landscape for offshore wind is new and still taking shape. The governance choices made now will have lasting consequences. The industry requires clarity and consistency, while effective oversight depends on strong science and an evidence-based approach grounded in the public interest. These decisions will shape the sector’s success, the health of marine ecosystems and the long-term sustainability of coastal communities.
Responsibility accountability, and long-term stewardship.
Responsible offshore wind means being accountable and earning trust by making decisions openly, having inclusive conversations, and being honest about how risks and benefits are shared. It means investing in local workers and skills, planning carefully for every stage of a project, and being cautious when there is scientific uncertainty. At its heart, responsibility is about legacy: who carries the risks? Who benefits? Are we building something our communities and future generations can stand behind?
By working directly with communities, the AOSWC helps identify tangible social, environmental, and community benefits that will lay the foundation for the long-term, sustainable economic opportunity offshore wind can bring to our region: a just transition to renewable energy, and a cleaner, more resilient electricity grid.