N.B. Power turns to carbon-emitting natural gas for new electricity
Minister says gas plant could mean lower emissions overall, if it replaces Coleson Cove at peak demand times
N.B. Power is turning back to carbon-emitting fossil fuels as it scrambles to find new ways to generate electricity to meet record-breaking demands.
The utility plans to buy power generated by a new natural-gas plant to be built by a private company outside Moncton — a move at odds with the current push to achieve a net-zero-emissions power grid a decade from now.
But Energy Minister René Legacy says it will allow N.B. Power to rely less than it does now on its Coleson Cove generation station, which burns higher-emitting heavy oil during peak demand times.
"In my mind it would probably be [used] ahead of Coleson Cove, which is the heavy fuel," he said.
"So it's less emitting on that aside, short term. So we should see a reduction in carbon emissions short term."
Energy
Minister René Legacy says that by buying power from a privately built
and run plant, N.B. Power will avoid exposing itself to the financial
risk of building its own facility. (Jacques Poitras/CBC)
Coleson Cove can generate more than three times as much electricity as N.B. Power's only natural gas generating station, Bayside in Saint John.
But Coleson Cove produced 26 times as many greenhouse gas emissions as Bayside in 2022, according to federal data.
N.B. Power said no one was available for an interview on the project Thursday, but in a statement the utility said it issued a request for proposals in June, "and we are currently moving forward with due diligence with a proponent."
The likely location is an industrial area in Scoudouc outside Moncton, near the Maritimes and Northeast Pipeline that would supply it with gas, the statement said.
Officials said at a legislative committee hearing last year that during a February 2023 cold snap, N.B. Power faced an all-time peak demand for electricity that it came perilously close to not being able to meet.
Because of population growth, "it's a trend," the utility's Andy Hayward said at the time. "We're going to set peak demand records on a regular basis as we go forward."
Moe Qureshi, the director of climate research for the Conservation Council of New Brunswick, said he's worried that those soaring population numbers and heightened demand will make the proposed gas plant a regular staple of the utility's grid.
"If they don't have more clean energy projects online, they're going to be more dependent on this fossil reactor. So it might not just be a peaking facility is what I'm worried about," he said.
Moe
Qureshi, the director of climate research for the Conservation Council
of New Brunswick, says he's concerned heightened demand will mean N.B.
Power will rely too heavily on the proposed gas plant. (New Brunswick Legislature Livestream)
But Legacy said N.B. Power will soon be adding more renewable power, such as wind energy, to its grid and those sources need a backup supply of reliable electricity for times when wind turbines can't operate.
The new plant will be convertible to non-emitting energy sources, such as hydrogen, in the future, Legacy said.
The minister said he doesn't know which company N.B. Power has signed the agreement with but was told it's a business that has built gas plants before.
He also said by buying power from a private operator, the utility is not exposing itself to the financial risk of constructing a plant itself.
N.B. Power is facing challenges to several of its generating units as it struggles to reach climate policy objectives and meet a growing demand for electricity.
Its Belledune plant must stop burning coal by 2030, its zero-emissions Mactaquac hydro dam needs a multibillion-dollar overhaul, and the future of the Point Lepreau nuclear station is unclear.
"The general takeaway is that there is no silver bullet," the utility said in its 2023 Integrated Resource Plan.
The agreement with a private operator for natural gas frees up N.B. Power financially to pursue other necessary but expensive projects, like the Mactaquac upgrade.
That project will involve taking some turbines at Mactaquac offline, another reason the new gas plant is needed, Legacy said.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
David Amos
Reply to Luc Newsome
Reply to Luc Newsome
Reply to Luc Newsome
Shevek Anarres
We love our 2 EVs. Highly recommended.
Albalita Star
Reply to Shevek Anarres
Oh so suddenly now you have 2...a buying spree?...
Luc Newsome
Reply to Shevek Anarres
Everyone should have one……why don’t they?
Marge Timmons
Reply to Shevek Anarres
And the kids in the Congo love to mine cobalt for your batteries.
Albalita Star
Reply to Shevek Anarres
I thought you were pleading poverty with the "union working man"...
Denis van humbeck
Reply to Shevek Anarres
Overpaid public servant.
David Amos
Reply to Denis van humbeck
Bingo
David Amos
Reply to Luc Newsome
Why just one? My son owns 3 Teslas and an electric Harley
Luc Newsome
Reply to David Amos
I wish everyone would be able to buy multiple EVs……
David Amos
Reply to Luc Newsome
He rents them and rides his Harleys
Yes, Nuclear costs more on the outset, but has higher paying workers added to the Economy, achieves the net zero, faster, and avoids foreign dependence when we can mine, & have the capability to process our own Canadian Uranium.
Like wise our Solar & Wind with proper management.
While private Business can save some investment money, downloading that to the private business, the reliance, and leverage they extract, most especially in Methane, being sold at World price and it's price to soar with increased demand, and the Climate Change issue of Methane being many factors worse than CO2, then one seeing the larger picture sees the cliff at the end that such actions leave the public with.
Nova Scotia, even has the ability to harness the tides for Energy, Methane is at best a transition Energy option when sustainability is the focus.
Reply to Gerry Ford
" achieves the net zero" you think that is achievable? 2 funny
Nuclear transportation for the "common man and women" on their way to work?
How much energy Do the tides provide ?
Content Deactivated
Reply to Denis van humbeck
Why Denis?
Denis van humbeck
Reply to Denis van humbeck
Because its not needed. It drives up the cost of living which nobody wants.
Eddy Geek
Reply to Denis van humbeck
Actually it is needed Denis to help reduce Canada’s emissions and despite what you and wee Pierre keep saying, it does not “drive up the cost of living” - especially when compared to the carbon levy wee Pierre wants to replace it with
Reply to Gerry Ford
US Plutocrats $276 Billion Richer Since Trump Win—And GOP Wants to Give Them Even More
David Amos.
Reply to Shevek Anarres
What does that have to do with the price of tea in China or the doings of NB Power?
This province sits atop a gold mine of shale gas.
Too bad the lobbyists put the run to SWN and Corridor.
We're going to need fossil fuels for a long, long time. Luckily, Canada has lots of oil reserves and provinces (Alberta, Saskatchewan) willing to share this great resource with the rest of the country.
David Amos
Reply to Art McCoubrey
Do you really think fossils are the source of oil?
Art McCoubrey
Reply to David Amos
Haha, not fossils... fossil fuels.
David Amos
Reply to Art McCoubrey
Guess its my turn to laugh
Reply to Art McCoubrey
“great resource”
Western Canadian Select (WCS) is a heavy, sour blend of crude oil
NOT a “great resource”
Reply to Eddy Geek
Are you under the impression that WCS is the entire O&G sector in western Canada?
Eddy Geek
Reply to Bob Enrob
WCS isn’t the dirtiest source of oil; it isn’t the most expensive to refine but it is very close to the most expensive and dirty to not be a “great resource”
Bob Enrob
Reply to Eddy Geek
Depends on the end product your refining it to be..
So I assume you do think its the entire sector?
Eddy Geek
Reply to Bob Enrob
It makes up the vast majority of O&G from AB Bob
Bob Enrob
Reply to Eddy Geek
When did 45% become the vast majority?
Robert Holmes
Reply to James Wolf
Nuclear is very reliable James
Reply to David Amos
Muskrat Falls is hydro, not petroleum fueled
Reply to Eddy Geek
Whats your point?
Oh no, not fossil fuels!!! They must want affordable, reliable power.
Eddy Geek
Reply to James Wolf
“They must want affordable, reliable power.”
Correct which is why Pointe Lepreau was built
David Amos
Reply to Eddy Geek
How is that working out?
MR Cain
Reply to Eddy Geek
Lepreau was built to make money from the New England states.
Eddy Geek
Reply to David Amos
Makes up about 40% of electricity generated, so not too bad at all
David Amos
Reply to Eddy Geek
No comments:
Post a Comment