Reports out of New Brunswick and Prince Edward Island (PEI) indicate that there is no available transmission capacity to allow other provinces to ship power to the northeastern United States through New Brunswick, says Opposition Leader Yvonne Jones. She is looking for government to provide a concrete status update on the much-discussed north-south power corridor that has been proposed to avoid exporting power through Quebec.

As reported by the Guardian newspaper out of Charlottetown , New Brunswick ’s power utility, NB Power, is refusing to accept energy exports from PEI due to a lack of transmission capacity. It was also reported that NB Power issued a tender over a year ago to allow other provinces to secure excess transmission capacity, but all of this excess was bought by Quebec. The Government of PEI is now facing criticism for not participating in this process which could derail their province’s energy plans.

“These reports certainly raise questions as to the future of the north-south transmission route proposed by our government to ship power through the Maritime Provinces to the United States,” said Ms. Jones. “If New Brunswick does not have the capacity to ship our power through their province, this certainly does not bode well for any Lower Churchill project that avoids shipping power through Quebec. We will now be faced with the same transmission negotiations that are bogging down discussions with Quebec.”

Jones says there are several questions that need immediate answers from government including whether Nalcor bid for the excess transmission capacity in New Brunswick when it was tendered over a year ago; whether any deals have been signed with New Brunswick to allow power to be wheeled through their province; and without existing transmission in New Brunswick, what impact will that have on potential power exports from this province.

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