Energy board approves $684M transmission line between Nova Scotia and New Brunswick

Power transmission lines. Photographer: Matthew Lloyd/Bloomberg

The Nova Scotia Energy Board has approved a project to build a 160-kilometre transmission line between Nova Scotia and New Brunswick that is expected to cost $684.7 million.

The Wasoqonatl Transmission Line is a project spearheaded through a partnership with Nova Scotia Power, the Canada Infrastructure Bank and Wskijinu’k Mtmo’taqnuow Agency. They aim to build a 345 kV line from the Onslow, N.S., substation to the Memramcook and Salisbury substations in New Brunswick.

The new line will run parallel to an existing interconnection that was built in 1976. The Nova Scotia portion of the line will stretch roughly 95 kilometres while the New Brunswick section will span approximately 65 kilometres, according to the written decision from the energy board.

The substations in both provinces will need to be upgraded for the project.

Wasoqonatl Transmission Incorporated submitted an application to the energy board last April, seeking approvals for several parts of the project, including the forecasted cost.

The application noted the Canada Infrastructure Bank’s ability to invest in the project is expected to provide equity with low cost to the transmission line for the first 30 years of its operation. The Wskijinu’k Mtmo’taqnuow Agency, which represents 13 Mi’kmaq communities in Nova Scotia, will also be able to invest in the project.

The application estimates these financial arrangements will save electricity customers roughly $200 million.

“The Board finds that the Project is needed to achieve significant provincial and federal policies and legislative requirements, including reaching targets of 80% renewable energy, meeting GHG and CO2 emission caps, and phasing out coal-fired electricity generation by 2030,” the decision reads. “The Project is the most cost-effective way to provide grid stability and support the integration of renewable energy generation into Nova Scotia’s power grid to achieve these legislative targets.

“Further, the Board finds that the Project is technically sound and all aspects of executing a transmission line of this complexity and scale have been thoroughly considered.”

The energy board approved the $684.7-million forecasted cost of the project, which will be confirmed in a follow-up application for the final project costs.

According to the Nova Scotia Power website, the project was registered for an environmental assessment in October 2023 and it was approved two months later.

The power utility plans to assemble towers and foundations for the project next year with the goal of getting the line operational by 2028.

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