21 months after its announcement, the Fundy tidal power demonstration got the go ahead from Nova Scotia's Environment Minister Sterling Belliveau. The $10 million project will test underwater turbines that are designed to harness the power of the world's highest tides in the Minas Basin near Parrsboro.

Banking on the success of the tidal turbines, Mr. Belliveau beleives that this could pave the way toward Nova Scotia's goal of sourcing 25 percent of its energy from renerable sources.

Local power providers Nova Scotia Power are teaming up with the family owned Minas Basin Pulp and Power and the B.C.-based Clean Current who are experts in tidal tubine manufacturing on the west coast.

Despite extensive planning and research, field testing will be key to assessing the environmental impact of installing blades measuring 17 meters wide into the ocean. Although the Environment Department has given the design a passing grade, one of the deepest concerns will be how multiple turbines could affect the migration of fish in the Minas Passage.

"These questions are not going to be addressed unless you have a demonstration project. I think you basically cannot sit in a conference room and get the answer to that," Belliveau said. "You have to go out in the real world. There's going to be further environmental studies that will have to be done if the project is going to go to the next stage, to the commercial. This information will be a valuable tool in making recommendations at that given time."

In addition to supplying more green energy, these turbines could potentially become a viable industry in the Atlantic Region. If Nova Scotia were to manufacture and distribute this technology worldwide it could create jobs and provide a boost to the growing green energy sector on the east coast.

Read the full article at the Globe and Mail's website.