On July 14, NB Power announced their plans to build a new fossil fuel power plant powered by American fracked gas — right in Megan Mitton’s riding of Tantramar. Climate scientists are clear: we cannot afford to build new fossil fuel infrastructure if we want a livable future.
NB Power has a history of costly mistakes, and this is shaping up to be yet another. Instead of fracked gas, biomass, and risky SMRs, we should be investing in wind, rooftop solar, and battery storage — proven technologies that offer clean, affordable power and real energy security.
A recent UN report found that solar power now is 41 per cent cheaper and wind power is 53 per cent cheaper globally than the lowest-cost fossil fuel. In Ontario, a new battery project will deliver the same 400MW capacity as this proposed plant — and be online by 2027. In New England, rooftop solar recently met 22% of demand during a heat wave, helping to prevent blackouts.
Without a broad strategy focused on distributed energy and equitable access, the province risks repeating its long history of costly energy mistakes. NB Power has spent decades investing in fracked gas, biomass, and risky small modular reactors instead of proven technologies that offer clean, affordable power and real energy security.
David is proposing that the government establish a provincial program that makes solar power accessible to every New Brunswicker including renters and low-income households. The plan would eliminate upfront costs for installations, promote rooftop and plug-in solar systems, and integrate battery storage and energy efficiency to build a modern, decentralized grid.
Affordable plug-in solar panels, now popular in Europe, can help cut power bills for low-income New Brunswickers living in apartments or homes and can be made available with little to no installation costs. David has called for them to be made readily available to New Brunswickers to make this a reality.
A clean, affordable, and resilient energy system is within reach, but only if we invest in it.