Federal government announces more than $1B for clean energy projects in N.B.

The federal government has announced just over $1 billion in funding for clean electricity projects in New Brunswick.

In Dieppe on Sunday for the announcement, Minister of Environment and Climate Change Steven Guilbeault said the money would ensure that the province's power grid can keep up with increasing demand.

"All of us have a role to play in building the future we want to see — a future where we can fight climate change, grow the economy, and generate good union paying jobs," he said. 

The funding will go toward numerous projects, but the largest portion by far is the $1 billion earmarked for 670-megawatts worth of Indigenous-led wind projects through the Canada Infrastructure Bank and Natural Resources Canada.

"Building a clean electricity grid is central to Canada's effort to tackle the climate change crisis," said Guilbeault.

Other projects include:

• $25 million for the Neweg Energy wind project.
• $25 million to N.B. Power for pre-development work for up to 600 megawatts in new small modular reactor capacity at the Point Lepreau Nuclear Generating Station.
• A commitment to support the conversion of the Belledune generating station from coal-fired power to biomass
• $1.6 million to further investigate the conversion through engineering and planning studies.
• $1.3 million to N.B. Power for pre-development work on the modified Atlantic Loop transmission line between N.B. and N.S.
• $500,000 to the North Shore Mi'kmaq Tribal Council to provide seven Mi'kmaw nations in New Brunswick resources and technical support and enable direct participation in clean energy opportunities.

"Whenever we introduce any kind of new energy generation, there's always fear, there's always concern," said René Legacy, New Brunswick's energy minister and deputy premier.

"So the quicker we get the dialogue going, the quicker we start producing and getting the project started, the better it is."

N.B. Power estimates these investments will help power up to 140,000 homes.

Joint agreement

Canada has committed to building a net-zero energy grid by 2050. But New Brunswick has long relied on coal and fossil fuels, threatening to derail that commitment.

Guilbeault said Sunday that another part of the announcement included an agreement between the two levels of government when it comes to new clean energy regulations.

"We've worked hard together to identify key investments that will support the phaseout of coal-fired electricity in New Brunswick by 2030 as we build a clean power grid for the future," he said.

That agreement includes some "flexibilities" when it comes to decarbonization, which will be available to all provinces, although no details were provided.

Indigenous groups taking the lead

Elder Gordon Labillois of Eel River Bar First Nation, spoke at the announcement as a representative from the Indigenous communities that will oversee some of the projects.

"It's about action … reconciliation," he said. "We're finally starting to see some action that's been talked about for the longest period of time now, but it's nice to see the action with N.B. Power."

Labillois, who said his own community is at risk of being displaced by climate change, hopes that the announcements made Sunday will prevent further communities from being impacted.

"Who's to say what's gonna happen in 100 years, 200 years or 500 years?" he said. "But I think it's important to do something today."