Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says the interests of business and environmentalists can coexist in the new green economy.

Trudeau repeatedly made the point during Tuesday’s historic signing of a new Canada-German Hydrogen Alliance in Stephenville.

The international event in small-town Newfoundland formalizes ongoing efforts between the two countries for the development and export of green hydrogen.

Trudeau spelled out the immediate, short-term targets of the alliance. He says the plan involves initial exports of hydrogen to Germany by 2025, creating middle-class jobs and local growth, while delivering clean energy that will help fight climate change. Trudeau called it a modern alliance for a modern world, where a healthy environment and a healthy economy go hand in hand.

The signing was held in Stephenville, close to where World Energy GH2 wants to convert wind energy to hydrogen for export.

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz conceded the winds back home can’t compete with the southwest coast.

Scholz also referenced an old saying in German that, ironically, speaks of battling windmills. He says in Stephenville there’s no fighting against windmills. Rather, he says “the fight is for wind turbines, for clean energy supply, and for a substantial contribution to limit climate change.”

World Energy GH2 is proposing to erect more than 160 wind turbines on the Port au Port Peninsula as part of its project.

Scholz says Germany was already in an energy crunch before the war in Ukraine. He says that’s only increased the need for alternatives to Russian oil and gas.

Meanwhile, Premier Andrew Furey wanted to take a moment to let the scene sink in. Two G7 leaders, in Stephenville, in the midst of what Furey termed an “energy revolution.”

Furey provided a brief history of the province’s path to date, and the recent unlikely turn of events.

He noted the province was once defined by the fishery, then discovered offshore oil, and is developing hydro power from rivers, but “who knew that wind would be the next big step forward in this journey.”

Furey also signed a joint commitment with the other Atlantic premiers to create clean, green fuel for the region.

And he announced plans for a “declaration of intent” on hydrogen cooperation with the German city of Hamburg, where Chancellor Scholz is from.

Furey will sign off on that when he attends an international wind conference in Hamburg next month.