New BrunswickThe Holt Liberal government is signalling that it won’t order a comprehensive environmental impact assessment of a controversial natural gas plant being proposed in Tantramar. Environment minister tells legislature he’s heard no concerns that would require more rigorous assessmentJacques Poitras · CBC News · Posted: Oct 29, 2025 4:18 PM EDT | Last Updated: 3 hours agoListen to this articleEstimated 3 minutesBrotman Generating Station in Rosharon, Texas, has similar components and layout as the project ProEnergy wants to build in Tantramar. (ProEnergy)The Holt Liberal government is signalling that it won’t order a comprehensive environmental impact assessment of a controversial natural gas plant being proposed in Tantramar.Environment Minister Gilles LePage told the legislature Wednesday he hasn’t been convinced such a review is necessary.He said the regular process, known as a determination review, will consider all the questions and concerns people have expressed about the 500-megawatt proposed plant.“To date, until today, there is no element that indicates that a comprehensive review is necessary,” LePage told Tantramar Green MLA Megan Mitton during question period. “If we find out during the process that it is, we will change our minds.”WATCH | This has been mismanaged’: Green MLA disappointed with Liberal stance:Holt Liberals see no need for comprehensive gas plant reviewMinister says there’s no indication a more detailed study of controversial project is requiredHe said the government was looking at all the questions people have raised about the plant and is “responding to them and ensuring that the proponent mitigates or eliminates their impact.”N.B. Power has hired U.S.-based ProEnergy to build the plant, which it says will provide backup power for renewable energy elsewhere on the grid, leading to a net reduction of 250,000 tonnes in greenhouse gas emissions overall.But opponents in the area say that the utility and ProEnergy are downplaying the potential impact on wildlife and wetlands and that emissions could be much higher than claimed.They have demanded LePage order a comprehensive assessment.Such an assessment requires a more detailed submission that is subject to “enhanced public, stakeholder and First Nation engagement,” according to the province’s website.Gilles LePage, New Brunswick minister of the environment and local government, says a decision has all but been made on whether a comprehensive environmental review is necessary for the proposed plant in Tantramar. (Jacques Poitras/CBC)Premier Susan Holt told a group of anti-plant protesters last week that she had “a number of questions about this project the same as you do” and that her government was looking at whether to order a comprehensive assessment.“Is this eligible for that process? Can we put it through that kind of rigour as per our policies and processes? Are we getting the answers that we need from the proponents and the partners at all?” Holt said, describing those discussions.LePage said Wednesday the decision was all but made. Proponent of natural gas plant to Tantramar council: ‘Fact-check me’Tantramar council turns down call to oppose proposed natural gas power plant“Until the member across the aisle, citizens or First Nations show us elements [of the project] that justify a comprehensive study, we’ll stick with” the determination review, he said.He also told Mitton that with that review underway, “no decision will be made as long as my questions, your questions, citizens’ questions, First Nations questions and even the premier’s questions are not answered, I assure you.”ProEnergy is seeking approval for a plant with 10 turbines capable of generating 500 megawatts of power, though the agreement with N.B. Power is for 400 megawatts from eight turbines.LePage left the legislature Wednesday without speaking to reporters to elaborate on his thinking.Mitton said she was disappointed in his comments. “This has been mismanaged, unfortunately, in terms of what ProEnergy and N.B. Power have been doing, and the government does have this tool in their toolbox. I am urging them to use it.” ABOUT THE AUTHORJacques Poitras has been CBC’s provincial affairs reporter in New Brunswick since 2000. He grew up in Moncton and covered Parliament in Ottawa for the New Brunswick Telegraph-Journal. He has reported on every New Brunswick election since 1995 and won awards from the Radio Television Digital News Association, the National Newspaper Awards and Amnesty International. He is also the author of five non-fiction books about New Brunswick politics and history.
No need for comprehensive review of Tantramar gas plant, Liberals say
