Over the past weeks, our team has published a bilingual briefing note, op-ed and participated in a national news release on the provincial and federal governments’ talk of converting the Saint John LNG terminal to an export facility; we’ve called out Premier Higgs for his talk of ripping up the moratorium on shale gas fracking; and, we’ve weighed in on the need for an environmental bill of rights to protect the health and safety of our most vulnerable citizens. Below is a rundown of expert commentaries from our team:
Aug. 10—Matt Abbott, our Director of Marine Conservation, tells Global New Brunswick’ that for Premier Higgs, the LNG conversion is much less about supplying Europe with gas as it is about ripping up the moratorium on hydraulic fracturing in the province, saying this could lead to serious risk to drinking water, air quality and even the waters of the Bay of Fundy.
Aug 10—Dr. Louise Comeau, our Director of Climate and Energy Solutions, tells CTV Atlantic that it would be impossible to convert Saint John LNG in time to supply gas to Europe for winter heating needs, and that doing so at all goes against what the people of New Brunswick want for energy projects, saying “We know the public would prefer the province embrace the future, which is a future that doesn’t use fossil fuels, that moves quickly to renewable energy.”
Aug 9—Dr. Louise Comeau tells CBC New Brunswick that she welcomes news that new LIberal leader Susan Holt is questioning the logic and value of small modular nuclear reactors, saying, “We’ve been more in a phase of hype and boosterism. … I think what she’s [Holt] said is we need to have more information, we need to look at all options, and we would really agree with that. Wind and solar and efficiency and other options all have to be part of the portfolio.”
Aug. 10—Dr. Louise Comeau’s op-ed on the LNG and shale gas issues is published in the New Brunswick Media Co-op.
Aug. 5—Dr. Louise Comeau participates in a national news release with organizations representing millions of Canadians, calling on the federal and provincial governments to abandon LNG and shale gas development plans in favour of more cost-effective and non-polluting renewable energy to meet our domestic and export energy needs. The release was covered by the Toronto Star, Global News, Financial Post, and the National Observer, among others.
Aug. 3-5—Dr. Louise Comeau’s op-ed on LNG and shale gas is published in L’Acadie Nouvelle, Huddle Today and the New Brunswick Telegraph-Journal.
July 27—Our Executive Director, Lois Corbett, speaks to the New Brunswick Media Co-op about the need for an environmental bill of rights to protect the health of all New Brunswickers, and particularly our most vulnerable citizens such as children and seniors. Corbett says a bill of rights would add transparency to government decision-making around developments that could hurt citizens’ health.
July 27—Dr. Louise Comeau tells l’Acadie Nouvelle that the provincial government needs to set clear targets on home energy efficiency and must ramp up programs that help low- and middle-income New Brunswickers retrofit their homes to save money on energy costs and live comfortably.