The collapse of the NB Power sale to Hydro Quebec could open up new opportunities for Nova Scotia to ship its tidal energy to New England, Premier Darrell Dexter said yesterday.
Dexter and Newfoundland and Labrador Premier Danny Williams had expressed worry the proposed sale could shut them out of New Brunswick’s lucrative transmission lines. Those fears were eased yesterday when New Brunswick Premier Shawn Graham announced he was calling off the sale.
“It’s a bit of a surprise simply because we all knew New Brunswick was very much committed to it,” Dexter said.
“This now means there is an increased opportunity for us to co-operate regionally on NB Power strengthening our transmission grid.”
Dexter said he never opposed the deal, but was fighting to get assurances that would protect his province’s interests.
The botched sale breathes new life into Nova Scotia’s plan to become a pipeline stop between hydro-rich Newfoundland and New Brunswick. Such a transmission line would open up the lucrative New England market for the province’s growing tidal power industry.
