‘People are scared’: N.B. community still concerned over power plant

People in southeast New Brunswick are expressing concerns over a new gas plant in the area.

The folks who run the Atlantic Wildlife Institute near Sackville, N.B. know a thing or two about the environment.

For the past 30 years, they’ve provided province-wide service for displaced wildlife.

Now, they’re concerned a proposed NB Power gas plant scheduled to be built just a few kilometres away will have an impact on them.

Atlantic Wildlife Institute Executive Director Barry Rothfuss is worried about the impact on their work and also the environmental sensitivities of the ecological corridor which he said is one of the most important isthmuses in the country.

The new facility would be built around four kilometres away from the institution in Cookeville.

“We have an extra dimension of concern because it’s going to impact our ability to do our work,” said Rothfuss.

The construction and the operation poses a major threat to the local environment around the Tantramar River, the isthmus in general, the region and institute’s service to the province, said Rothfuss.

“It threatens to shut us down, basically,” said Rothfuss. “It will decimate the water table that effects this particular area.”

In July, NB Power announced the Renewable Integration and Grid Security [RIGS] proposal – a gas powered generating facility project in Centre Village.

The crown corporation said it chose the area because it was close to an existing gas pipeline and to their transmission system which would reduce costs and timelines.

Ever since, people who live in the area have been very vocal with their concerns about the eco-system and the impact it could have on the Chignecto Isthmus.

The size of the facility is projected to generate 500 mega watts of power.

In a recent editorial, NB Power CEO Lori Clark addressed some of the issues local residents have.

“We know that some community members and local groups are concerned about this project, its impact on our province as well as the pace at which it’s being pursued. we’re listening,” said Clark. “We’re looking forward to meaningful engagement with all New Brunswickers on this project and our plans for the future as they progress.”

Clark said NB Power signed an agreement with PROENERGY, an American-based company, to build a generating facility on land owned by the province.

The new facility will be equipped with dual-fuel combustion turbines and is critical to ensuring energy security for its customers.

The plant will allow NB Power to meet the province’s ever growing demand for electricity.

But none of that sits well with a recently formed group called Stop the Tantramar Gas Plant.

Group member Juliette Bulmer lives around two to three kilometres away from where the plant would be built.

She’s helped organize a peaceful protest Saturday afternoon in Sackville.

“We want to create awareness. We want people to have correct information. We want the facts to come out,” said Bulmer.

Bulmer hopes Saturday’s march at Bill Johnstone Memorial Park will be a step toward the gas plant not being built in her community.

“That’s the ultimate goal, that it will not be built here. And it’s not so much a case of a case of not in my backyard, but not just on the Chignecto Isthmus for goodness sakes,” said Bulmer.

Rothfuss recently penned a letter to Premier Susan Holt telling her he thinks the provincial government has treated the community “with little or no respect,” he wrote.

He feels the province needs to be more accountable for the project.

“We’re trying to stop something from being built rather than looking at the best place to build it. We’re in a position now as a community that we have to defend ourselves,” said Rothfuss. “We as a community have had no input in relationship to what’s being thrown at us and [they’re] expecting us to accept it.”

The Stop the Tantramar Gas group will also be bringing their peaceful protest to the Legislative building in Fredericton on Oct. 21.

“People are scared,” said Rothfuss.

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