Opposition grows to New Brunswick's Tantramar gas plant project

Opposition to New Brunswick's Tantramar gas plant project is gaining significant momentum, with local and national advocacy groups urging the province to reconsider the development. Despite clearing a major regulatory hurdle earlier this spring, the project faces growing resistance.

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Why would you put a gas plant in the middle of this ecological jewel?

NB Power has contracted with Missouri-based ProEnergy to install 10 natural gas turbines in a rural area. The proposed 500-megawatt plant is intended to provide reliable electricity during peak demand and serve as backup power when renewable sources like wind and solar are insufficient. NB Power stated that the Renewables Integration and Grid Security (RIGS) project is crucial for ensuring customer reliability while supporting the transition to cleaner energy, enhancing grid stability, and enabling greater renewable energy integration.

However, advocates argue that gas plants come with substantial costs. Mike Marcolongo of Environmental Defence Canada questioned the plant's location within an "ecological jewel" and highlighted concerns about its impact on human health, noting that gas plants emit nitrogen oxide, contributing to smog and worsening respiratory illnesses. In June, over 300 doctors and medical staff called for an independent study on the project's potential health effects.

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The Renewables Integration and Grid Security (RIGS) project is an important part of NB Power’s plan to ensure customers to have reliable electricity while supporting the transition to a cleaner energy future.

Critics also point to alleged procedural irregularities. Lisa Griffin of Protect the Chignecto Isthmus claimed that regulatory procedures were bypassed to expedite the project, citing issues with water and air assessments, as well as problems with the Energy Utility Board's regulatory process. Legal action is reportedly being pursued. Furthermore, the auditor general's June report indicated that NB Power entered into a long-term agreement without regulatory approval and selected equipment without exploring alternatives.

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The RIGS project would help maintain grid stability and energy security and support a cleaner energy future by enabling more renewable energy on the grid while reducing emissions from older, higher-emitting generation sources.

The project is still subject to an environmental impact assessment and requires Indigenous consent. Environmental Defence Canada's concerns extend beyond the project's estimated $2.5 billion to $3.5 billion cost and its potential effects on electricity rates and the environment. The group emphasizes that cleaner alternatives were not fully considered.

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There have been many if not all regulatory procedures that have been bypassed in order to rush this project through.