26 FEBRUARY 2016

Fredericton - David Coon, MLA for Fredericton South and leader of the Green Party of New Brunswick, welcomes the Fracking Commission’s recognition that New Brunswick must make the transition to a carbon-neutral society, and their acknowledgement that this must represent a new economic and environmental reality for our economy, where we produce and consume energy very differently.

“Clearly the way forward is to create the conditions to grow New Brunswick’s fledgling green energy sectors,” said Coon. “The fossil fuel era is fading. Shale gas is finished in New Brunswick. The world is going green.”

In New Brunswick, 18 percent of the total energy consumed already comes from renewable energy, and its share of the energy pie is growing. Whereas, 17% of the energy consumed in our province is natural gas, and its share is declining.

“There is tremendous potential for accelerating green energy development in New Brunswick. We have biomass resources in forestry, agriculture and fish processing to produce wood pellets, biogas, biofuel, and green diesel. We have enviable wind, tidal and run-of-the river resources. Our solar resources are superior to those in Germany. New Brunswick companies are working to develop these renewable resources, and NB Power is building a smart electrical grid to efficiently integrate them, and electric vehicles into its system. This is the energy development for our future, not the production and transportation of fossil fuels,” said Coon.

“The Fracking Commission called on government to rebuild it relationship with Indigenous people and trust in our public institutions. Setting New Brunswick on the course to a green energy future, rooted in an integrated approach to the social and economic development of all our communities, would represent a significant step in that direction,” said Coon.