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Panel image from Nova Scotia Power, who were also part of the July 2023 open house at the Tantramar Civic Centre. Photo: Erica Butler<\/p><\/div><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n
NB Power did not respond to multiple CHMA requests for interviews, but spokesperson Dominique Couture provided some responses by email. Couture would not say how much the project is estimated to cost.<\/p>\n
Currently, NB Power is in the first phase of the project: land rights acquisition. The utility hosted a series of open houses in July to inform owners whose land will be affected, but Donald says the session his father attended at the Tantramar Civic Centre was mostly \u201cpromotional\u201d, and didn\u2019t include concrete information or resources for affected landowners.<\/p>\n
A surveyor could cost between $1500 to $2000, says Donald, but there was no mention of covering that cost. And the issue of \u201cinjurious affection\u201d, where before and after assessments determine the effect of a project on a property\u2019s value, was also not mentioned. \u201cNone of this is discussed,\u201d says Donald. \u201cIt\u2019s just kind of like, here\u2019s a pamphlet. And then the pamphlet also had the threat of expropriation\u2026 Like if we don\u2019t get what we want, we\u2019ll just expropriate, and then you\u2019ll be negotiated with after the project.\u201d<\/p>\n
Materials distributed by NB Power outline a compensation process based on estimates from an independent appraisal firm, but also state that the utility may be required to use the Expropriation Act in some cases where the project timeline is compromised, or the title to the land is not clear.<\/p>\n
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NB Power map of the transmission line crossing above Silver Lake. Photo: Erica Butler<\/p><\/div><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n
Donald says that there\u2019s a history of expropriation when the original line was built. \u201cThey did expropriate property, and they did negotiate with landowners when they put that line in,\u201d says Donald. \u201cAnd from what I can tell it was not a pleasant process for a lot of people.\u201d<\/p>\n
Donald\u2019s issues with the project range from concern for the health and well being of local people and the local environment, the decline of property values, and the fact that the aggressive timeline could mean large numbers of expropriations. He also wonders if there\u2019s a case for the expansion project in the first place.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe question will remain is the project needed,\u201d says Donald. \u201cThat\u2019s going to take a lot of high up policymakers to go over the numbers and make that decision and present options. And I don\u2019t think that those have been adequately looked at.\u201d<\/p>\n
Transmission upgrades needed for low carbon future, says Conservation Council<\/h2>\n
Dr. Moe Qureshi has a different perspective on the transmission line project. As Manager of Climate Solutions for the Conservation Council of New Brunswick, he sees the extra high-voltage line as a vital upgrade to the region\u2019s grid, though he says to make it happen, NB Power needs to tred carefully in how it consults those involved.<\/p>\n
Coincidentally, the Conservation Council is releasing a \u201cbest practices in community engagement guide for energy projects\u201d next week, and Qureshi is hoping that NB Power will follow it.<\/p>\n
The utility needs to communicate \u201cin a meaningful way, in a timely way, and in an inclusive way,\u201d says Qureshi, \u201cincluding all the stakeholders involved, every step of the way. But regardless, I do think that transmission is a big part of our energy future. The grid that we have right now is simply not reliable or sustainable.\u201d<\/p>\n
Transmission of electricity will become more important as fossil fuels are phased out, says Qureshi. \u201cIn the future, once you don\u2019t have as much oil or coal on the system, it might be an issue,\u201d he says. \u201cLet\u2019s say it\u2019s not really windy in New Brunswick today, you might need to import a lot more from Nova Scotia, for example. At the moment, you could just burn more fossil fuels to deal with it. But in the future, we can\u2019t burn fossil fuels the same way, you\u2019re going to have to find another solution to get that power. And that\u2019s through transmission.\u201d<\/p>\n
Qureshi even thinks NB Power should consider expanding the voltage of the proposed line, to increase the capacity of energy flow. \u201cThis is a good start, but I think in terms of a net zero economy, we need to connect all of the Atlantic together somehow,\u201d says Qureshi. \u201cBecause if Newfoundland is struggling to get energy from let\u2019s say their hydro, then New Brunswick could be able to sell them our wind, and vice versa, right? So I think transmission is how we get off coal and other fossil fuels.\u201d<\/p>\n
NB Power is calling the new line a \u201cReliability Upgrade\u201d, and Couture says the current line has failed five times since 1992, with the longest outage lasting about four days. \u201cWhile failures are expected from time to time, having the second line will mitigate the impacts of these outages on customers,\u201d writes Couture.<\/p>\n
But the line also follows the route of the proposed and much debated Atlantic Loop, and could be considered part of the larger project. Initially, it\u2019s expected that power will mainly flow into Nova Scotia, but the lines can flow in either direction.<\/p>\n
Couture says the project is \u201ca reliability upgrade to help address climate change challenges\u201d and \u201cit will help NB Power reduce overall GHG emissions in the region.\u201d It\u2019s also \u201ca step in enabling secure bi-directional energy flows between New Brunswick and Nova Scotia,\u201d says Couture.<\/p>\n
Donald would like more detailed information. \u201cIs there a way for Nova Scotia to become decarbonized without these huge transmission line projects?\u201d he wonders. \u201cI\u2019d like to see the math on it, to be honest.\u201d<\/p>\n