Mi’kma’ki (Nova Scotia) - The Ecology Action Centre is applauding today’s announcement of a $255 million federal investment in wind energy and energy storage in N.S., but are disappointed by the Prime Minister’s comments in support of liquified natural gas (LNG) expansion in the East Coast.
“We’re thrilled by this announcement. This is a significant amount of funding for clean energy in Nova Scotia that will flow back to ratepayers and help ensure that Indigenous communities benefit through majority ownership of the projects,” says Kelsey Lane, senior climate policy coordinator with the EAC. “However, we would have liked to see better alignment with provincial processes and were very disappointed by the Prime Minister’s supportive comments regarding LNG projects in Nova Scotia.”
In a press conference regarding the announcement, the PM spoke favourably of the development of LNG infrastructure in N.S. as a means of supporting Ukraine and Germany, who have been cut off from Russian supplies. Trudeau said that the infrastructure could be converted to hydrogen energy in the future. Lane takes issue with this statement.
“The infrastructure proposed will not be completed in time to help mitigate the energy crisis in Europe, and so it’s disheartening to see government parroting oil and gas messaging that takes advantage of the situation in Ukraine,” says Lane. “We can’t keep expanding fossil fuel use. Not now, and especially not in the five or more years it will take to complete these projects. All this will do is take investments away from real climate solutions that will protect our communities and our families.”
Nevertheless, Lane stresses that today’s announcement is a great step forward.
“It’s a shame that the Prime Minister’s comments on LNG put a dark cloud over what was otherwise a very positive announcement,” Lane says. “Nova Scotians deserve energy solutions that are clean, affordable and reliable, and this investment is a significant step toward that.”
-30-