August 20, 2024

FREDERICTON - In the wake of recent news by NB Power that Point Lepreau won’t be generating power anytime soon, and the unprecedented power rate increase NB Power is seeking to keep up with the spiralling costs of the troubled nuclear plant, Green Party leader David Coon says he would restructure NB Power.

“I've been saying for years that NB Power has built a house of cards out of our electricity system. It has made us dependent on expensive and unreliable nuclear power, along with a fleet of large polluting power plants that must be phased out. The ongoing problems at Point Lepreau, the debt it has racked up, and the power rate increases that result, risk bringing that house of cards crashing down,” stated Coon.

“NB Power needs a new mandate to transition to a more affordable, renewable energy system. This will require the management of electricity demand and the build-out of decentralized generation, powered by the sun, wind and hydro - managed by a smart grid,” explained Coon.

“I think of the millions of dollars poured into Joi Scientific, the millions of dollars paid to an outside contractor to manage Point Lepreau, and the public utility’s dalliance with unproven small modular nuclear reactors, and I cringe,” said Coon. “It’s time for a reset.”

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