Tell Premier Holt: NO to a New American Gas Plant in NB

You may have heard that the NB Energy and Utility Review Board found in favour of approving the new American gas plant proposed for Tantramar.

This is a hugely disappointing decision – but this is far from the end of this issue.

A provincial  environmental assessment is ongoing – one that has revealed real problems with the plant because the massive amounts of water it will require to operate may threaten aquifers.

Elected leaders at all (municipal, provincial, and federal)l levels continue to have a role to play in the plant – and now is a good time to remind them that this is the case.

The bad decision by the EUB means it is more important than ever that elected leaders step up.

Premier Holt can use her power under the Electricity Act to tell the EUB that new information about the reliability of renewables required NB Power to go back to the drawing board when assessing how this decades-long investment in fossil fuels compare with cheaper renewable energy sources like solar, wind and storage.

Please write to Premier Holt and your MLA to tell them to use their powers to fix what the EUB broke.You can use the form to send it (only to the Premier) or here’s a draft letter you can send via copy-paste and customize:

Email for the Premier: premier@gnb.ca / Susan.Holt@gnb.ca

Find your MLA’s email here: https://www.legnb.ca/en/members/current

Subject line: Premier Holt, use your power under the Electricity Act regarding the Tantramar Gas Plant

Dear Premier Holt,

CC: Your MLA

New Brunswick stands at a critical energy crossroads. Globally, the electricity landscape is transforming. Technology costs are crashing, federal policies are evolving, and modern grid reliability models are leaving old assumptions in the dust.

Yet, New Brunswick risks making massive, irreversible commitments to long-lived gas infrastructure based on outdated planning frameworks.

The facts have changed:

According to the latest IRENA analysis, since 2010, installed costs have plunged by 87% for solar, 55% for onshore wind, and a staggering 93% for battery storage. With further cost reductions of 40% projected by 2035, firm renewable energy is hitting below USD 50 per MWh.

The old argument that renewables aren’t reliable is dead. Today’s technology delivers dependable, round-the-clock power. If we build expensive new gas infrastructure today without pausing to look at the current math, New Brunswick ratepayers will be trapped paying higher power rates and changes in unpredictable global gas prices for decades.

We need a reality check.

Take Action: I am calling on the Lieutenant-Governor in Council to use their power under Section 69 of the New Brunswick Electricity Act to issue a directive to NB Power. NB Power must be required to submit a refreshed comparative analysis to the Energy and Utilities Board using current 2025–2026 cost and reliability data.

I am calling on the Lieutenant-Governor in Council to exercise its authority under Section 69 of the Electricity Act and direct NB Power to complete and publicly release an updated comparative assessment of all viable electricity supply options using current 2025–2026 cost, reliability, and system-planning information.

Don’t let yesterday’s assumptions dictate tomorrow’s electricity bills.

Sincerely,

[Your name and Postal Code / Community]