Doctors write letter opposing NB Power’s proposed natural gas plant

The Dr. Georges-L.-Dumont University Hospital Centre in Moncton, N.B. (Derek Haggett/CTV Atlantic)

Doctors at the Dr. Georges L. Dumont University Hospital Centre in Moncton, N.B., are speaking out against NB Power’s controversial proposed natural gas plant.

The hospital’s 331 medical and dental physicians have written a letter of opposition to “express their disagreement and issue a warning” about the project.

NB Power hopes the 500-megawatt gas-fired plant in the Tantramar area will be operational by the end of 2028, but the plan has been met with opposition from the community.

The utility has said a new power plant is needed in response to New Brunswick’s population and infrastructure growth, noting the province could run out of power by 2028.

But doctors at the Dumont hospital say the negative health effects of plants like the one proposed by NB Power are well-documented in medical journals.

“The combustion of natural gas and diesel is a significant source of air pollution, contributing to greenhouse gas emissions and climate change,” they said in their letter. “It is also associated with increased morbidity and mortality, particularly due to cardiovascular and respiratory diseases, certain cancers, and congenital conditions.”

The doctors are concerned New Brunswick could see a spike in emergency department visits, hospitalizations and premature deaths, resulting from the plant.

“Given the current state of our healthcare system, which is already struggling to meet the needs of the population, we must act responsibly,” they said.

“For the health of our population and the sustainability of our healthcare system, we must choose to abandon the project of a fossil fuel-powered generating station.”

NB Power has said the plant’s technology, which uses jet engines, is quite common and most Canadian provinces and territories are pursuing some version of the same technology.

“An important part of any project is the independent Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) process that looks at many factors including potential impacts to health, air quality, and the environment, while also identifying any required mitigation measures before the project can proceed,” said Elizabeth Fraser with NB Power. “A project will not be given the permit to proceed if concerns cannot be mitigated.”

ProEnergy is going through the EIA process, she said.

The proposed facility will operate as a “back-up and grid stabilizing resource, not a baseload generator,” said Fraser. “It will support NB Power and only run during high demand, extreme weather and when renewable generation is not available - approximately seven per cent of the time.”

The new facility will use natural gas but can transition to cleaner fuels, like hydrogen or biodiesel when available and cost effective, said Fraser.

With files from CTV News Atlantic’s Laura Brown and Derek Haggett

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