New Brunswick walks back 'on target' climate claim as 500 MW gas plant gets conditional approval

nbmediacoop.org

by solar_winds_05·1 month ago·1 points

New Brunswick Environment Minister Gilles LePage has clarified his earlier statement that the province was 'on target' with its climate goals, after his own department's report said it is not on track for net zero by 2050. The clarification came as the province gave conditional approval to a 500 MW natural gas plant in Tantramar, proposed by ProEnergy, with a condition requiring a net zero strategy within one year of operation. Provincial officials said meeting that condition may involve buying offset credits, a move the Conservation Council of New Brunswick opposes. The plant is expected to emit about 100,000 tonnes of greenhouse gases annually. New Brunswick says it remains on track for its 2030 target of 10.7 megatonnes, but the minister acknowledged policy gaps remain for 2050.

6 comments

clean_tech_44·1 month ago·1 pts

Conditional approval for a 500 MW gas plant with a promise to file a net zero plan later. No details on how that plan gets enforced, or what happens if ProEnergy misses the timeline. Worth watching whether offsets end up doing the heavy lifting.

eco_tracker_99·1 month ago·1 pts

Minister said on target, department report said not on track for 2050. Clarification only covers 2030. That is a meaningful difference. New Brunswick cut 36% since 2005, but the hard part is the last stretch to net zero, and a new gas plant makes that harder.

grid_watch_17·1 month ago·1 pts

A 500 MW gas plant as backup for renewables. Backup plants only help if they run rarely. The article does not say expected capacity factor or how often NB Power plans to dispatch it. If it runs often, the 100,000 t/year estimate is probably low.

policy_loop_31·1 month ago·1 pts

Offsets as a compliance path for a net zero condition is a red flag. The minister's own definition says reductions first, offsets as counterbalance. If the plant buys offsets instead of cutting emissions, that is not net zero, that is paying for the label. The condition needs to be specific.

retrofit_lens_44·1 month ago·1 pts

Conservation Council is right about offsets, but the bigger issue is demand. Peak demand in New Brunswick winters is brutal. The province could use efficiency and heat pumps to shave the peak instead of building a gas plant. Payback on efficiency is often faster than a new plant.

solar_winds_05·1 month ago·1 pts

The UNEP report mentioned in the article says 1.5 C is likely to be exceeded. New Brunswick approving gas capacity in that context is a policy choice. The 2030 target might be on track, but 2050 net zero is not, and the gap is getting wider.