Terry Jones and her husband Gord live a few hundred metres away from where a proposed natural gas power plant in Centre Village, N.B., could be built. Neither of them sees their potential new neighbour as a benefit to the community. Jones says she’s opposed to it for several reasons. “The emissions, the draw on the water, the noise pollution, the light pollution, the extra traffic on a road that’s not fit to handle that type of traffic,” she said. During a hearing on Thursday, the New Brunswick Energy and Utilities Board (EUB) approved NB Power’s proposed natural gas-fired generation plant in the area just outside Sackville. NB Power has previously said the Renewables Integration Grid Security (RIGS) project, which would be built on NB Power-owned land, is expected to be operational by 2028 and is vital to secure the province’s energy future. “I am totally appalled and disappointed in the EUB decision yesterday,” said Jones. Jones is also worried about the impact the plant could have on the Chignecto Isthmus and the wildlife in the area. She believes the project is being pushed forward too fast. “There’s a lot of negatives,” said Jones. “Wrong place, wrong time, wrong technology, wrong fuel base.” The proposed 500-megawatt natural gas plant to be built by American company PROENERGY was first announced in July 2025. NB Power has previously stated locations in southeast New Brunswick were evaluated due to population and economic growth and proximity to existing natural gas and electrical transmission infrastructure. A statement on NB Power’s website states that RIGS will provide reliable back-up power and is an important part of the power utility’s strategic plan to deliver cleaner and greener energy while making sure it’s doing so with reliability, affordability and customer needs at the centre. Barry Rotfuss, the executive director of the Atlantic Wildlife Institute, has been very vocal with his criticism of the project from the beginning. He was disappointed with the EUB’s decision, but says he was expecting it. The main reason Rotfuss is opposed to the plant is because he thinks it’ll be an “environmental and public health catastrophe” that will put the whole community at risk. “It will do far more damage than it will do good. To the community. To New Brunswickers. To the environment here in relationship to what it’s going to damage in our Chignecto Isthmus which is one of the most sensitive ecological areas in the region,” said Rothfuss. Last December, Premier Susan Holt said the RIGS project is much needed, is one of the quickest solutions available at the lowest price and will cost roughly $1 billion. Conservative energy critic Kris Austin thinks the RIGS project is a necessary one, but the province is missing the mark. “What I find interesting about it is they’re going to be using natural gas which we’re going to be importing from somewhere else at a higher cost than we would be able to get right here at home under our feet in New Brunswick. I think NB Power is backed against the wall on this. I don’t think this government is moving on the natural gas file, which they should be doing,” said Austin. Memramcook-Tantramar MLA Megan Mitton said the EUB’s approval is just one step. “This is isn’t over. The Minister of Environment could reject the environmental impact assessment or could require a comprehensive one,” said Mitton. “Ultimately, Premier Holt has a responsibility here.” The Green MLA said she’s calling on the premier to do what’s right. “And to ensure that there are more ambitious targets on renewables. We should not be moving forward with this,” said Mitton. Rotfuss believes the plant is far from a done deal because there could be a review process and it still needs an environmental review. He’s also disappointed the government won’t better listen to the concerns of the people living in the area. “They just say that it’s unfortunate. It’s something that essentially, we’re going to have to accept without being able to voice our concerns,” said Rotfuss. Jones doesn’t believe it’s a done deal either. “Oh, the fight is never over. Not until that plant is open and running,” said Jones. “We can still protest. We can still make our voices heard. We’d just really like the rest of the province to jump on board and realize if it comes to Centre Village there will be another one coming soon.” For more New Brunswick news, visit our dedicated provincial page.
