PRESS RELEASE: EAC releases new report calling on Atlantic provinces to pursue regional coordination of electricity grids to prevent blackouts

By drawing on examples of coordinated power grids across North America, the report from Dunsky Energy + Climate Advisors argues that Atlantic provinces could significantly improve reliability, lower costs and increase renewable energy integration through regional collaboration

 Mi’kma’ki/Nova Scotia – Today, the Ecology Action Centre (EAC) is releasing a report outlining the steps that the Atlantic provinces could take to facilitate collaboration between electricity systems across the region. The report, titled Pathways to Regional Electricity Integration for Atlantic Canada, presents a series of recommendations which would enable the creation of a coordinated power grid capable of improving reliability, lowering costs and increasing renewable energy integration. Produced by Dunsky Energy + Climate Advisors, the report examines the development of coordinated power grids in New England, the central United States, and California to help guide a province-led approach to grid coordination in Atlantic Canada, grounded in clear mutual benefits for each province.

“As Atlantic Canadians, we take pride in our willingness to help our friends and neighbors when the power goes out,” says Thomas Arnason McNeil, senior energy coordinator with the EAC. “But when it comes to planning and operation of our power grid, our decision makers have put up barriers to trade and collaboration between provinces. We need to start helping each other during emergencies and working together to make sure our electricity is reliable and cheap.”

The report is being released at a pivotal moment. An independent review of New Brunswick Power, completed in April, recommended “an immediate discussion regarding the potential establishment or sharing of responsibilities of a Maritime Independent System Operator” – one of the options to facilitate collaboration also identified in the report. The Government of New Brunswick has since pledged to “initiate discussions with other Maritime provinces” and “advance regional integration and cooperation.” Additionally, P.E.I. Premier Rob Lantz has stated that he spoke with both New Brunswick Premier Susan Holt and Nova Scotia Premier Tim Houston about the idea of a regional system operator, as well as Massachusetts Gov. Maura Healey about the creation of the New England Systems Operator – a process discussed in the report.

“For some regions like New England, the idea of working together to improve grid reliability started in the 1970s, or even as far back as the 1940s in the central U.S. In California, they’ve had to grapple with the need to collaborate to improve reliability as they transition to intermittent renewable energy,” Arnason McNeil says.  

“It’s clear that we’ve fallen behind in Atlantic Canada, and we’ve had to sacrifice reliability and lower electricity costs because our provinces won’t work together.”

The report identifies new pathways for Atlantic Canada in our approach to planning and operating our electricity grids, an approach grounded in the spirit of resilience and regional pride that our communities are known for.

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