The province’s energy minister believes a proposed wind-hydrogen project by North Atlantic will generate over half a billion dollars in revenue for the province over its lifetime.

Over 10,000 hectares of Crown land has been set aside in the Trinity and Placentia Bay areas for the project, the first phase of which should be completed, and first hydrogen produced, in 2028.

Andrew Parsons says in addition to the revenue, it will likely create jobs “into the thousands,” and renewable energy opportunities in an area that is used to working in those types of environments.

Parsons remembers starting in the portfolio when the Come By Chance refinery was closed, and there were “a lot of scared people wondering what their future was,” but now there has been a “reversal” and they are talking about future opportunities.

The CEO of North Atlantic says local reception to their proposed wind-hydrogen project near Come By Chance has been positive thus far.

Ted Lomond says they have been consulting with nearby communities and “surprisingly, there have been few concerns.”

“One person might have asked about moose hunting,” says Lomond, but overall reaction has been positive. He owes that to Come By Chance already being an industrialized area.