The Belledune Port Authority is launching a series of studies to identify site requirements for the development of its Green Energy Hub, a specialized development district welcoming green energy projects and complementary, low-carbon industries.
The pre-feasibility studies are supported by a $1M investment from the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA) announced October 16, 2023 by the Honourable Gudie Hutchings, Canada’s Minister of Rural Development and Minister responsible for the ACOA, Honourable Jonathan Wilkinson, Canada’s Minister of Energy and Natural Resources, and New Brunswick Premier Blaine Higgs.
The priority project funding is included in a joint policy statement that lays out a series of collaborative projects in New Brunswick and Nova Scotia to help enable the phase-out of coal-fired electricity generation by 2030 and the drive to net-zero electricity by 2035.
“Atlantic Canada is a great place to live, work and invest,” said Hutchings. “Today’s agreement will help Nova Scotia and New Brunswick transition from coal to renewable electricity, securing jobs and protecting our region’s competitive advantage for the next generation.”
The list of New Brunswick projects include $2 million in federal funding to explore the feasibility of converting NB Power’s Belledune Generating Station from coal to sustainably sourced biomass, and $7 million to support pre-development of ARC Clean Technology Canada’s small modular reactor at Point Lepreau, NB.
“Northern New Brunswick and the Port of Belledune are proud to play a significant role in Canada’s green energy transition,” said Denis Caron, BPA President and CEO. “These critical investments will advance our plan to develop sustainable industries fuelled by renewable energy in Belledune, laying the groundwork for a prosperous, fossil-free future for our communities.”
The Green Energy Hub site studies will determine the Port’s capacity to develop various clean energy and manufacturing projects by evaluating source water and infrastructure readiness. This due diligence work will provide a measured and objective approach to identifying green energy projects for development at the BPA.
“Canada will move away from coal by 2030, but the people we’ll never leave behind are the workers and communities in the regions that will gradually have to move toward carbon neutrality,” said Member of Parliament for Acadie-Bathurst Serge Cormier. “These investments in Belledune will help our communities diversify their economies, create jobs and prepare the future for generations to come.”
