Courtesy of CBC News
The field studies, along with engagement with First Nations and local residents, would form the basis for an application for an Environmental Impact Assessment, which is planned later this year.
A second unit at Grand Falls has the potential to help NB Power meet its long-term clean energy requirements: 40% of the utility’s in-province electricity sales must come from renewable sources by 2020.
The combined renewable generation capacity of the proposed and existing stations would be 166MW, the project would require construction of various new structures, including a second tunnel.
The government has been taking steps to increase renewable energy production in keeping with commitments in the 2016 Climate Change Action Plan. The Community Renewable Energy program allows NB Power to procure up to 80 megawatts of small-scale renewable energy from First Nations and local entities.
The potential expansion at Grand Falls would increase electricity production from renewable sources, and could lead to further reductions in greenhouse gas emissions. It could also facilitate other business development opportunities, such as bidding on a renewable energy request from the State of Massachusetts.
The price and precise timing were not disclosed by the company.