The easiest solution for N.B. Power, not New Brunswick
At the EUB hearings, N.B. Power executives suggested they chose this project, not because it was the best solution, but because it was easier than trying several smaller measures at once.
That is a serious admission, because we know there are better alternatives, they just may not be easier for executives at the public utility.
Right now, modern electricity grids are being built with a mix of solutions. Battery storage, demand response, renewables and grid flexibility are already being used. These are not futuristic ideas.
New Brunswick has an opportunity to learn from this and modernize. Instead, N.B. Power is pushing a technology of the past.
This is the core problem. N.B. Power appears to have a culture rooted in tradition rather than transformation. Too often, those traditions lead to decisions that are easiest for N.B. Power, not what is best for New Brunswickers.
New Brunswick can have reliability without locking into fossil fuels
No one is saying reliability does not matter. It does.
The question is whether New Brunswick is being offered the smartest path forward, or simply the fastest one.
New Brunswickers deserve transparency on the full costs. We deserve a real alternatives analysis. We deserve an energy plan that aligns with climate reality, not one that adds to the problem.
The EUB now has an important decision to make.
If the board decides this project is not prudent, the deal is cancelled. That would mean regulators carefully assessed the risks and costs and concluded that this is not the right investment for this province. This would allow New Brunswick to pursue better alternatives, such as battery energy storage, wind, solar and demand-side management.
If the EUB decides the project is prudent, the plant moves ahead. That means New Brunswickers are tied to a 25-year commitment to fossil fuels, with costs that will show up on monthly power bills and lasting environmental consequences.
Whatever the outcome, the hearings made one thing loud and clear: New Brunswick does not have to settle for old solutions that come with long-term costs. We can build a cleaner, more affordable, more resilient energy system that sets New Brunswick on a path toward long-term energy security and a sustainable future.
That starts with telling the truth about this project, and demanding better from the utility that belongs to all of us.
This story was brought to Nouzie by RSS. The original post can be found on https://www.conservationcouncil.ca/the-tantramar-diesel-plant-is-a-deal-new-brunswick-cant-afford/
