New Brunswickers deserve a full environmental review of the Tantramar gas and diesel plant, not shortcuts

Traditional territory of the Wabanaki Peoples/Fredericton – Premier Susan Holt’s own questions about the proposed Tantramar gas and diesel plant are reason enough to order a full, comprehensive environmental impact assessment.

Last month, Premier Holt told protesters she had “a number of questions” about the 500-megawatt gas and diesel project proposed by a U.S. company near Tantramar. At the time, Holt said her government was still considering a full environmental review. Yet, in the Legislature last week, Environment Minister Gilles LePage said a shorter “determination review” would be enough and that he had yet to see a reason to order a comprehensive process.

Even the premier admits there are big unknowns. So how can the minister claim there’s no reason for a full review when we don’t yet know what this project will do to wetlands, groundwater and wildlife?

“The premier is right to have questions,” said Dr. Moe Qureshi, the Conservation Council of New Brunswick’s Director of Climate Research and Policy. “This project could damage one of the province’s most sensitive ecosystems, threaten local water supplies and lock us into decades of fossil fuel use. A full environmental review is the only way to get real answers.”

The 

Conservation Council’s examination

 of this project outlines serious environmental risks. The proposed site sits on the Chignecto Isthmus, one of Atlantic Canada’s most important wildlife corridors, home to endangered birds and valuable wetlands. The project would clear forests, destroy habitat and draw thousands of cubic metres of groundwater each day, potentially affecting nearby wells and wetlands.

This plant would also emit hundreds of thousands of tonnes of greenhouse gases annually, undermining New Brunswick’s goal of a carbon-neutral electricity grid by 2035. Additionally, the project would cost hundreds of millions of dollars to build. Locking in such a costly fossil-fuel facility would leave ratepayers on the hook for decades while cleaner, cheaper alternatives are already available.

“Wind and solar are now the lowest-cost sources of electricity in Canada,” Qureshi said. “ And with modern battery storage, we can reliably dispatch clean power when it’s needed most. Investing in these solutions is not only smarter and more economical—it’s the path to a sustainable energy future for New Brunswick.”

It’s time for the provincial government to listen to New Brunswickers, local officials and Indigenous communities who have asked for stronger oversight.

“If the premier still has questions, that’s a clear sign the public review hasn’t gone far enough,” Qureshi said. “New Brunswickers deserve a full, open, science-based assessment before a project of this size and risk is allowed to move forward.”