Federal government announces more than $1B for clean energy projects in N.B.

The federal government has announced just over $1 billion in funding for clean electricity projects in New Brunswick.

In Dieppe on Sunday for the announcement, Minister of Environment and Climate Change Steven Guilbeault said the money would ensure that the province's power grid can keep up with increasing demand.

"All of us have a role to play in building the future we want to see — a future where we can fight climate change, grow the economy, and generate good union paying jobs," he said. 

The funding will go toward numerous projects, but the largest portion by far is the $1 billion earmarked for 670-megawatts worth of Indigenous-led wind projects through the Canada Infrastructure Bank and Natural Resources Canada.

"Building a clean electricity grid is central to Canada's effort to tackle the climate change crisis," said Guilbeault.

Other projects include:

"Whenever we introduce any kind of new energy generation, there's always fear, there's always concern," said René Legacy, New Brunswick's energy minister and deputy premier.

"So the quicker we get the dialogue going, the quicker we start producing and getting the project started, the better it is."

N.B. Power estimates these investments will help power up to 140,000 homes.

Canada has committed to building a net-zero energy grid by 2050. But New Brunswick has long relied on coal and fossil fuels, threatening to derail that commitment.

Guilbeault said Sunday that another part of the announcement included an agreement between the two levels of government when it comes to new clean energy regulations.

"We've worked hard together to identify key investments that will support the phaseout of coal-fired electricity in New Brunswick by 2030 as we build a clean power grid for the future," he said.

That agreement includes some "flexibilities" when it comes to decarbonization, which will be available to all provinces, although no details were provided.

Elder Gordon Labillois of Eel River Bar First Nation, spoke at the announcement as a representative from the Indigenous communities that will oversee some of the projects.