Conservative MLA wants guaranteed access to N.B.'s power lines

A Conservative MLA has written a letter to New Brunswick Premier Shawn Graham asking him to sign an agreement guaranteeing Prince Edward Island access to ship power through his province should the sale of NB Power go ahead.
Opposition Energy Critic Mike Currie said there is great concern among all Atlantic Canadians, including Prince Edward Islanders, that this proposed deal will give Hydro-Quebec a complete monopoly on power transmission in this region. He calls on the New Brunswick premier to refrain from signing any agreement with Hydro-Quebec until such assurances are in place and mutually agreed upon by all four Atlantic provinces.
"Newfoundland Premier Danny Williams and Nova Scotia Premier Darrell Dexter have both asked for a written guarantee, but I understand that our premier has not done so," said Currie.
"I felt compelled to write this letter, due to the absence of Premier Robert Ghiz's leadership on this urgent matter."
In late October it was learned Hydro-Quebec was swallowing up New Brunswick's public power generator in a multibillion-dollar deal.
According to a memorandum of understanding, Hydro-Quebec would buy NB Power assets such as transmission lines, offices and most generation facilities, including the Point Lepreau nuclear power plant, for $4.75 billion.
Environment Minister Richard Brown said there is no need for an agreement because international law guarantees those New Brunswick transmission must be open to all jurisdictions, including Prince Edward Island. He said if those lines are at capacity, those same laws guarantee that additional capacity will be built.
"What the Opposition critic is looking for is preferred access to those transmission lines and international law wouldn't allow that," Brown said, in an interview.
"Every producer has a right to the transmission system."
Maritime Electric has purchased about 30 megawatts of capacity on that New Brunswick line already, so that wind power can be sold to the U.S.
Brown said Currie is simply playing politics.
The proposed sale of NB Power has divided Atlantic Canada with New Brunswick and P.E.I. supporting the deal and Newfoundland and Nova Scotia against it.
"(Currie's) playing politics. He's trying to build fear in people's minds that there will be no electricity to P.E.I."
In his letter, Currie told the New Brunswick premier that he had "deep concern over the proposed sale of NB Power."
He called on Premier Graham to provide assurances that P.E.I. would still be able to ship its excess energy, mainly produced by wind, through the New Brunswick transmission corridor to the U.S.
"There is grave concern, Premier Graham, that the sale of NB Power to Hydro-Quebec may jeopardize our access to those transmission lines," he also writes.
Currie stressed the importance of a separate agreement that will ensure open and accessible capacity while at the same time providing fair transmission fees.
"We are highly dependent on energy imports and hope to some day generate much-needed revenue from energy exports," said Currie.
"This guaranteed access is crucial to our future and to the future of our children. It is unfortunate that Premier Ghiz does not deem it necessary to stand up for Islanders on this issue.
"It is even worse that he has turned his back on his fellow Atlantic Canadian premiers to endorse this sell out to Hydro-Quebec."

wthibodeau@theguardian.pe.ca