In early February 2026 the NB Energy and Utilities Board (EUB) will hold hearings on the proposed Tantramar gas/diesel generating plant, formally known at the ‘Renewables Integration and Grid Security Project’ (RIGS). These hearings are separate from the Environmental Impact Assessment, and are essentially restricted to issues concerning the risks to ratepayers and taxpayers on costs, reliability of supply, and the prudence of the project in meeting the stated need for it.
Groups and individuals can register as interveners, then submit evidence, get answers to inquiries and cross examine witnesses during a hearing. A number of interveners have registered, including the Conservation Council Of New Brunswick and the Protect the Chignecto Isthmus Coalition. As these groups have developed reports and expert witnesses to address the technical issues of financial risks, the need for the plant, alternatives, and whether it is a prudent project to pursue, NBASGA chose not to formally intervene on its own.
However, we are participating through a second method – making a public comment that will be seen by the EUB and given to the interveners, and will be available to the public. We will not, however, participate in the actual hearing. Given that NBASGA has a history of legal action and intervention, we focused our comments on the emerging legal challenges to fossil fuel projects in international law and the Canadian courts – which carry financial and supply risks for RIGS, rendering it NOT a prudent project to pursue.