Local residents oppose NB Power’s proposed gas plant

Local mobilization is growing against NB Power’s proposed new natural (fossil) gas generating plant on route 940 north of Sackville in Centre Village. The plant also requires a three-million-gallon diesel fuel storage capacity backup.

Residents in the area organized an information meeting on August 11 in Midgic, the community just south of the proposed site. About 80 people from local communities and the wider region, including Moncton, showed up on the hot August evening in the Midgic Church basement to hear about the project.

By the following evening, a new Facebook group “Stop the Tantramar Gas Plant” had more than 200 members.

At the meeting, community members and experts asked and answered questions about the project. The session also helped to prepare for the information sessions later in the week by PROENERGY, the U.S. company that will build and operate the plant. NB Power plans to purchase the energy through a power-purchase agreement.

Participants included Tantramar MLA Megan Mitton who actively opposes the project. Both Mitton and Tantramar Mayor Andrew Black are calling for a comprehensive environmental impact assessment (EIA) of the proposed generating plant.

The meeting brought together families who have lived in the area for several generations, farmers (both young and old), environmentalists, activists, very concerned families with some of their children including babies, and those who care deeply about what happens to this ecologically sensitive area of the Chignecto Isthmus.

Participating groups and organizations included Canadian Parks and Wilderness New Brunswick (CPAWS-NB), EOS Eco-Energy, and the Atlantic Wildlife Institute (AWI). Barry Rothfuss and Pam Novak from AWI spoke about how the gas plant would directly affect them and their top-notch facility in Cookville, NB, located several km west of the proposed plant site. AWI is dedicated to the rescue and rehabilitation of wildlife displaced by human encroachment on natural ecosystems.

After the meeting, many people stayed to strategize against this terrible threat to the local environment. So much was discussed passionately and effectively, prepared with data, facts, and knowledge. Some group members are delving deep and doing research into the U.S. company, with initial searches finding references to lawsuits and corruption.

The STOP The Tantramar Gas Plant! Facebook private group created after the meeting is “a space for community members concerned about the proposed Tantramar Natural Gas Power Plant and want to take action to protect our region.”

We stand together in opposition to the gas plant for many reasons:

*Environmental Impact – The plant threatens local ecosystems, wetlands, wells, and wildlife vital to our region’s natural beauty and ecological health.

*Public Health Risks – Gas infrastructure can lead to air and water pollution, impacting the well-being of nearby residents — especially children, elders, and those with existing health conditions.

*Climate Crisis – Building new fossil fuel infrastructure is a step backward. We need to invest in clean, renewable energy that ensures a sustainable future for all.”

*Community Values – This project does not reflect the priorities of Tantramar residents who value clean air, rural character, and democratic decision-making.

*Better Alternatives – There are smarter, cleaner ways to meet our energy needs — ones that create jobs without compromising our environment or health.

This is a space to share information, organize events, build community, and raise our voices for a future that puts people and the planet first.

All are welcome to join this effort — let’s work together to keep Tantramar clean, safe, and thriving for generations to come.

Terry Jones, Kristen LeBlanc and Juliette Bulmer are the local residents who organized the Midgic meeting.