Eastern premiers talk hydro as clean energy
ST. JOHN’S, N.L. • The premiers of Quebec and Newfoundland and Labrador say they are studying how their hydroelectric resources can help the Atlantic region move away from coal power.
On his first visit to the neighbouring province as premier, Quebec’s François Legault joined the premiers of the four Atlantic provinces at a meeting Monday in St. John’s, where the group discussed power demand.
Legault discussed opportunities to provide Quebec hydro power to the region, while the group of Atlantic leaders stressed the importance of a developing transmission network to bring a variety of developing clean energy sources to more markets.
Legault and Newfoundland and Labrador Premier Dwight Ball couldn’t point to any specific hydro solution, but Legault raised the possibility of supplying all of Atlantic Canada’s electricity with some combination of hydro power from the two provinces that have historically sparred over the resource.
“It’s clear that we have, right now, some capacity, and we can add to this capacity,” Legault said. “So why don’t we work together a plan, a complete plan, to serve 100 per cent of clean energy to all our provinces.”
Legault said the group is studying all its options, noting resources from Quebec, the new generating capacity from the Muskrat Falls dam in development in Labrador and what he called the “very interesting” proposed Gull Island dam, also in Labrador.
Ball said transmission capacity across the region must be addressed before naming any specific solution, adding there are other sources of clean energy such as wind power from Nova Scotia.
As a group, the four Atlantic premiers stressed that a solid transmission network would benefit everyone.
Nova Scotia Premier Stephen McNeil said a transmission system with better access and healthy competition within power markets across the region and in New England would benefit consumers and attract businesses.
“I don’t think we’re competing against one another, we’re not each other’s enemy here,” McNeil said.
He said he would look forward to buying more hydroelectric power from Newfoundland and Labrador.
Dennis King, premier of Prince Edward Island, said the group considers benefits to all Canadians when discussing the transmission network.
“We come at this as a position of proud Canadians first,” King said.
Historically, hydro resources have been a source of bad blood between Quebec and Newfoundland and Labrador following the 1969 Churchill Falls deal, which has provided much more financial benefit to Quebec than to Newfoundland and Labrador.
The premiers said current talks will not involve re-negotiating the Churchill Falls agreement, which expires in 2041. But Legault said the provinces would work “differently,” and any new agreements will be designed as a “win-win” for both provinces.
Newfoundland and Labrador faces the looming challenge of paying for excess power from the over-budget Muskrat Falls dam in Labrador, which has essentially doubled in cost since it was sanctioned and now represents about one-third of the province’s considerable debt.