Feds, two Atlantic premiers agree to ‘modified’ Atlantic Loop project | Globalnews.ca

Nova Scotia and New Brunswick are scaling back plans for the Atlantic Loop electricity grid to expanding just one existing connection between their two provinces.

What they are now calling a “modified Atlantic Loop” is part of a joint policy statement agreed to Monday in Ottawa during a meeting between federal Energy Minister Jonathan Wilkinson and the premiers of Nova Scotia and New Brunswick.

Nova Scotia Premier Tim Houston says the smaller project will cost between $1 billion and $2 billion and can be finished by 2029.

The joint policy statement has both provinces and the federal government agreeing to co-operate on planning to ensure both Nova Scotia and New Brunswick eliminate coal power from their electrical grids by 2030 and to a fully greenhouse-gas emission-free grid by 2035.

Last week, Nova Scotia pulled back from the full Atlantic Loop citing ballooning costs and a lack of commitment from Quebec to share more power.

The Atlantic Loop was intended to build new electricity links to share hydro power from Quebec and Newfoundland and Labrador.

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Nova Scotia and New Brunswick look to form new energy partnership

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 16, 2023.