Originally published in the Chronicle Herald on Tuesday, April 29, 2025.
Canada is at a crossroads.
New U.S. tariffs are shaking our economy and reigniting talk of east-west energy corridors. Predictably, the billionaire-backed fossil fuel industry is exploiting this moment of uncertainty to pitch more dead-end pipelines, framing them as essential to Canada’s economic resilience.
But let’s not be fooled.
We’ve seen this play before. In 2018, Ottawa bought the Trans Mountain pipeline for $4.5 billion. Today, its price tag has ballooned to an astonishing $34 billion. Former environment minister Catherine McKenna recently admitted in a Globe and Mail op-ed that the government’s decision was a mistake and that taxpayer dollars “will probably never be recouped.”
This costly lesson should be enough. Rather than doubling down on outdated, risky infrastructure, now is the time to rethink what a true east-west energy corridor should look like.
Spoiler alert: It’s not pipelines, it’s power lines.
Grid at breaking point
Atlantic Canada’s electricity system is under strain.
The grid is aging, energy prices are soaring and we’re not fully tapping into our region’s vast renewable potential. Climate change is escalating the threat: hurricanes, ice storms and heat waves are becoming more frequent, and our power infrastructure isn’t ready.
A stronger, better-connected grid could be our best defence. By building interprovincial transmission lines and integrating electricity markets – known as grid regionalization – we can move energy where and when it’s needed most.
It means when one province is hit with extreme weather or a supply crunch, others can help keep the lights on. Helping our neighbours is central to our identity as Canadians, so let’s put that into practice in a way that benefits all our communities.
Right now, provinces like New Brunswick remain heavily reliant on fossil fuels, while others like Newfoundland and Labrador are dependent on single sources like Muskrat Falls. A regional grid would provide resilience and flexibility. More sources. More reliability. Less risk.
Learning from our neighbours
The U.S. is also grappling with grid instability. In response, states like California have invested in transmission and built integrated markets that allow electricity to flow across state lines.
The benefits are striking: $6.25 billion in cumulative savings since 2014, fewer blackouts and more energy security during emergencies.
Canada, in contrast, is stuck in a fragmented, outdated approach to electricity planning. Our provinces operate in silos, making it harder to trade energy and harder to respond to crises.
We can – and must – do better.
Unleashing renewables, unlocking jobs
Atlantic Canada is rich in clean energy. We boast some of the best wind resources in North America, along with untapped hydro and solar potential.
But without a modern transmission network, much of that energy goes unused. Worse, investors will think twice about backing new renewable projects if there’s no way to move the power.
A connected grid changes everything. It unlocks renewable energy, attracts investment and helps us transition off coal and oil faster. It also positions Atlantic Canada as a leader in meeting Canada’s goal of a net-zero electricity grid by 2035 while creating tens of thousands of good jobs right here at home.
The recent federal commitment to fund the Nova Scotia–New Brunswick intertie is a good start, but it’s only a start. More investment is essential.
Making power more affordable
Affordability is top of mind for households and businesses alike.
Interprovincial transmission can help ease the burden. By sharing low-cost renewable power across borders, we reduce the need for expensive, polluting local generation. That means fewer price spikes, less volatility and more predictable bills.
The math is simple: a modern grid saves money and cuts emissions at the same time.
No more talk, time for action
Governments have talked about regional energy integration for years. Meanwhile, costs are rising, renewable potential is being wasted as the world moves past fossil fuels and communities remain vulnerable to climate-fueled energy disruptions.
Atlantic Canada has a golden opportunity. We can build a cleaner, cheaper and more secure electricity system. One that’s powered by our natural strengths, not propped up by dead-end fossil fuel fantasies.
But it won’t happen unless our utilities, provincial governments and Ottawa get serious. That means real planning. Real investment. And real leadership.
Let’s trade pipelines for powerlines and plug Atlantic Canada into a reliable, sustainable and profitable energy future.
Dr. Moe Qureshi is the Director of Climate Research and Policy at the Conservation Council of New Brunswick. Thomas Arnason McNeil is a Senior Energy Coordinator at the Ecology Action Centre in Halifax