N.S. news: Occurrent’s tidal power bid fails [Video]

HALIFAX –

Another energy company has failed in its bid to develop tidal power from the Bay of Fundy, and fishing groups are worried about tonnes of materials and equipment left on the ocean floor.

The Nova Scotia government confirmed Thursday that Occurrent, formerly BigMoon Power, had filed for bankruptcy because it can’t pay its bills.

Last year, Sustainable Marine Energy — based in the United Kingdom — also failed, with estimated losses of more than $30 million. That collapse came after OpenHydro, which had partnered with Nova Scotia energy giant Emera Inc., left a 1,300-tonne tidal turbine stranded on the bottom of the bay in 2018 after going out of business.

Tory Rushton, the province’s natural resources minister, said Thursday that Occurrent’s demise was disappointing, but he said the series of costly flops hasn’t damaged the province’s enthusiasm for tidal energy projects.

“We’re willing partners here,” the minister said outside the legislature. “If we can harness it and …