The provincial government is again going to give companies who are pursuing wind-hydrogen products more time to do so without relinquishing access to Crown land.

Energy Minister Steve Crocker has extended the Crown lands reserves into the new year to allow proponents more time to secure agreements with investors and continue with pre-development work.

The fledgling wind-hydrogen industry was hyped in the beginning to become an exporter of energy to markets abroad, particularly Germany, but the six companies holding Crown land reserves in Newfoundland and Labrador have found it tough attracting investors.

Some are said to be on the hook for millions of dollars in land fees to the provincial government.