Tag: Other Org Action

PEI, New Brunswick and Nova Scotia’s MOU marks an important step towards doubling grid capacity

In July, Prince Edward Island, New Brunswick and Nova Scotia signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to advance Maritime regional electricity cooperation and system integration — marking an important step towards a deeper regional electricity system. 

The agreement between the three provinces establishes a process to develop a transmission roadmap, exploring how greater coordination of electricity planning, transmission, generation and emerging energy resources can strengthen the region’s energy system. It also opens the door to exploring new approaches to regional grid operations, including the potential for a Maritime Independent System Operator.

While the final model is yet to be developed, the MOU represents a meaningful shift toward breaking down provincial silos and finding new ways to improve reliability, make smarter infrastructure investments, and build a stronger electricity system for the region. 

Read the full statement by Climate Action Network Canada HERE. CRED-NB is a member of the national network.

Indigenous financial stake not essential for Tantramar gas plant: NB Power executive

CRED-NB is a member of the Protect the Chignecto Isthmus Coalition that is fighting a proposed fossil gas and diesel plant in Tantramar. NB Power’s agreement with ProEnergy requires the American company to establish “a partnership and consultation with Indigenous communities.” In the latest development about the project, an NB Power executive said an Indigenous partnership is not essential.

Read the article by Bruce Wark in the NB Media Co-op HERE.

Coalition Files Court Challenge to Tantramar Gas Project

The Protect the Chignecto Isthmus Coalition (PCIC) filed an application for judicial review of the New Brunswick Energy and Utilities Board’s approval of the proposed Renewable Integration and Grid Security Project (RIGS) in Tantramar.

The EUB approved the project in May that includes a proposed 400-megawatt dual-fuel generating facility and an additional 100-megawatt expansion intended to supply power to Nova Scotia. The project’s capital cost is expected to exceed $1 billion, and if it goes ahead, it will raise electricity rates. This is a story written by Jim Emberger of the New Brunswick Anti-Shale Gas Alliance. Read the full story and download a copy of the PCIC petition on the NBASGA website HERE.

CRED-NB is a member of the Protect the Chignecto Isthmus Coalition and NBASGA is a CRED-NB Champion.

Stability will come from investing in clean energy, not uncertain fossil fuel exports

Climate Action Network Canada issued a statement in early July responding to Alberta’s application for a pipeline to the Major Projects Office. In part, the statement includes: “[W]e find ourselves in a treacherous moment of geopolitical instability. But in 2026, stability for our economy, for our communities, and for our planet will come from diversifying not only from an unstable trading partner, but from volatile fossil fuels. The “biblical weather” that delayed the announcement made the point for us: climate change itself is a growing source of instability. Continuing to expand fossil fuel production when Canadians are already living with climate chaos is simply dangerous.”

Read the full statement HERE.

Nuclear Energy Strategy a “Cash Cow” for the Nuclear Industry

Ottawa – Critics from civil society organizations and academia are calling out the Nuclear Energy Strategy for Canada released by the Federal Government as a cash cow for the nuclear industry and a hubris-driven attempt to grab world “energy superpower” status based on past-Century technology.

The Strategy, released on June 22, is an ambitious agenda to spend public funds on new nuclear reactors to the detriment of readily available clean renewable sources, and to short-circuit independent oversight of nuclear projects.

The document reads like a wish list of nuclear developments, including the goal of 10 new large reactor projects in Canada by 2040. It parallels a US announcement made the next day, also promising 10 new large reactor projects and standing to benefit some of the same corporations.

Read the full media release HERE.

Action alert by July 22: Say goodbye to independent assessments of nuclear projects

Given the considerable pushback to the federal government’s discussion paper to reduce regulatory oversight of many types of projects, the deadline for feedback is extended until July 22. Action alert and more info HERE.

The federal Discussion Paper, Delivering on Big Projects in Canada outlined the plan to shorten and reduce environmental impact assessment. The plan will hit nuclear projects particularly hard, handing the assessment process over to the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission.  The deadline for comment is July 22, and it’s expected that new legislation will follow later this year.

Opponents vow ‘fight is not over’ after EUB approves gas plant

CRED-NB is a member of the Coalition to Protect the Chignecto Isthmus (CPIC) that is fighting the development of a fossil gas plant that was given the green light this week by New Brunswick’s Energy and Utilities Board. This article by Bruce Wark in the NB Media Co-op, HERE, has the reaction of CPIC, New Brunswick Anti-Shale Gas Alliance and the Conservation Council of New Brunswick.

Activists attack Carney’s power strategy and LeBlanc’s silence

New Brunswick environmental activists are reacting with alarm to Prime Minister Carney’s announcement of a National Electricity Strategy that promotes the burning of natural gas to help double Canada’s supply of electrical power by 2050. Read the story HERE by Bruce Wark in the NB Media Co-op.

Not mentioned in the story but of particular concern to CRED-NB is the electricity strategy’s focus on nuclear energy instead of renewable energy to power electricity grids, although the strategy contains no specific details. The federal government announced that a national nuclear energy strategy will be released before the end of 2026.

Parliamentary committee publishes report critical of Canada’s emissions reduction plan

Parliament’s Environment Committee published a report critical of the Carney government’s emissions reduction plan. Unusual because the Liberal-dominated committee was critical of its own government and also because the report got no media attention. The committee is headed by Halifax MP Shannon Miedema. You can read the report HERE.