After careful consideration

After attending the presentation and question/answer meeting tonight at the Tantramar Veterans Civic Center and carefully weighing what was said, the conclusion I have is that there are more cons to the project in its current state than there are pros, least of which is a confusion by PROENERGY and NB Power about who is involved, who is not involved and anything about the region itself in terms of it’s environment and habitat. 

Overall, here is the summation I got from tonight’s meeting:

- it's not a full power plant, but a back up that will run at most up to 7% and only if needed...?

- It's in the preliminary stages; early enough that environment impact analysis' are not yet fully complete, the actual project isn't fully agreed to yet and they don't have numbers on power rates, costs of the project, etc. They have the backing of 7 Indigenous tribes who have formed into an LP to work with the company.

- It's scheduled to begin Q1 in 2026, the Indigenous tribes aren't committed yet to the project, there is enough preliminary impact assessments of the environment to claim that the plant won't affect fish, the water nor any local wildlife, especially birds. (side note: sea trout can be found in the area's brooks/streams/rivers apparently, yet on boards describing the project there was indication of 'no fish impact', for example. Secondary side note: Fort Folly (Amlamgog) and Elsipogtog First Nation are noted tonight as saying: Elsipogtog is AGAINST this project (IIRC; if I am wrong I'm sure someone can correct that information). Fort Folly (Amlamgog) is requesting documents to look into it [assumption by me here is that they were not included at all in this projec which is VERY suspicious as they are the Local Tribe/Band so why weren't they??t])

- The company specializes in these plants and there is/are plants in Texas (side note: is this the same Texas that had power collapse/went without power in two different seasons, winter and summer, where people suffered and died due to the lack of power? Asking for... me, I'm asking for me; fuck the friend.)

- the project was noted as a need in 2023. It was tendered and the site of Cormier Village chosen in 2024 (fall); yet we're only hearing of this nearly a year later, and had to push to get these information sessions expanded to more than just two online sessions.

- Claim of transparency was brought up a few times, yet no one was allowed to record what was said - questions or answers - in this meeting. The only recording were the notes people wrote - or specific note takers - took. CBC was not even allowed to record (The excuse was "People might be shy of speaking their questions")

- The fraked gas is not from the US, but Alberta, that comes into NB through pipelines via the US...?

- If there is something on the level of a disaster, there are procedures at the plant for people to follow (with 10 employees... that are there part time? Full time? Who knows!) They are only just now talking with local Fire Departments... (side note: will the company and/or NB Power supply a donation to SFD, CFD and DFD for the gear required in the HazMat situation they would find themselves in, if they have to attend the plant? Huh... think I'll go to the next local/town meeting and bring this up)

- Solar and Wind aren't reliable enough to use for a plant/back up for this.

- The plant is making way for solar and wind and other renewables to be used for power (also, NS is sending us power as well, or will be, as part of the Provincial Loop or whatever... so their Renewables are good enough to use, but we can't put in our own?)

(as mentioned, the meeting was not being recorded officially but notes by individuals could be taken; since this was NOT announced before the meeting many people didn’t come prepared (I certainly didn’t) so most of the above points are from memory, just FYI)

Finally I want to add that the disrespect shown to our MLA was absolutely NOT acceptable.  Even if she was bringing up an issue that had already been discussed at the very first of the night, how she was spoken to was infantile and degrading. Absolute SHAME on the one answering her question for reacting like that.

The sad thing was, it was overall how I think a lot of us were being thought of by the Panel that were there for the project; we were just country NIMBY’s who would react negatively to anything they did so they didn’t have to take us seriously.

Perhaps when PROENERGY and NB Power come back with actual RESPECT to the people of Tantramar and are willing to have REAL transparent and honest discussions, they might find a better reception and people willing to work with them.