New tidal and wave power infrastructures are part of increasingly busy, multi-purpose oceanic spaces, in which many analysts also see great risks and the need for new communing institutions and norms towards marine justice. Like other nascent industries, marine renewables are shaped by sedimented economic and political patterns and visions, that affect how these technologies are taken up- or not.
The Canadian province of Nova Scotia claims the most powerful tides in the world, and has invested heavily for a decade in developing tidal turbine stations. Though many agree that the idea is good, the decision-making process around investment, benefit-sharing and environmental impact have been very fraught. This paper examines the effect on the tidal power dream of local fishery struggles, evolving relations with First Nations land and sea stewards, and the push-and pull around decarbonizing Canada. It uses early results from stakeholder interviews and participant-observation to analyse the experience of tidal energy production, and what a tidal energy commons might look like. Lastly, the paper asks how this particular form of making and sharing energy is similar or different from locally established common-pool resources such as coastal tourist sites or education.
