Greening up the energy grid

Hydroelectricity from Muskrat Falls would be transformative for region

There was an important meeting earlier this month in Halifax.

Our political representatives — provincial and federal — from all political persuasions came together to talk about energy.

I can understand if you didn’t take notice; especially with this beautiful fall weather, and because it’s easy to glaze over when a bunch of politicians get together in a boardroom. I’ve been in those rooms — believe me, I get it. But this was one of those non-partisan meetings that could affect all of us.

The premier, leaders of the opposition and our 11 federal members of Parliament met with the head of our utility, Nova Scotia Power, to discuss the Atlantic Loop.

This is a once-in-a-lifetime project that could transform our energy market. If we are going to get off coal by 2030, we need to find a clean energy solution. And lucky for us, it’s not far from home.

Quebec has a surplus of hydroelectricity. Power from Muskrat Falls in Labrador has already started flowing. And with significant transmission upgrades to provincial grids, the Atlantic region could be poised to share clean energy at an affordable price.

I know I am making this sound easy. It’s not. This is something past governments, including my own, have been discussing for years. The utilities in the Atlantic region have been trying to find common ground. And it will involve a significant investment from Ottawa. The latest estimation is about $5 billion.

But not doing it could come at an even greater cost to our environment and ratepayers.

Energy is not getting any cheaper, and we in Nova

Scotia pay among the highest power bills in the country. The Atlantic Loop will green up our energy grid which will provide opportunities to share renewable energy throughout Eastern Canada, and we can export the surplus.

This project has the potential to bring in billions and create jobs while also protecting our environment. It’s a game-changer. But it will take co-operation among utilities in the four Atlantic provinces and Quebec, and it will take political will.

Stephen McNeil is an Upper Granville resident and the former premier of Nova Scotia. He served as the MLA for Annapolis County from 2003 until retiring earlier this year.