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Nova Scotia has announced a $30 million investment in the Subsurface Energy Research and Development Investment Program, managed by Dalhousie University. This program aims to assess the province's onshore natural gas deposits to reduce reliance on imported gas and lower power costs, with 20% of Nova Scotia Power's output currently derived from natural gas.

The program includes establishing an oversight committee and inviting proposals for exploratory drilling. The province can hold equity in successful ventures and will reinvest a portion of revenue into local municipalities.

A 2017 petroleum atlas estimated seven trillion cubic feet of recoverable natural gas in the region. The initiative follows the lifting of a ban on hydraulic fracturing earlier this year. Dalhousie will engage with First Nations and the public throughout the research process, with proposals expected in early 2026.