N.B. Power has told municipal leaders the proposed 500-megawatt gas-and-diesel generating station near Sackville could go ahead even if an Indigenous equity partner is not secured, a development that underscores competing pressures around energy planning, regulation and Indigenous participation.
Utility says Indigenous investment is optional, not required
Brad Coady, the utility’s chief commercial officer, told Tantramar council on Tuesday that while the Crown corporation supports Indigenous-led renewable projects, the proposed plant with U.S.-based builder ProEnergy is different because it would include fossil fuels and emissions.
“First Nations need to have the ability or option to participate in projects,”
Coady said that option exists but emphasised that Indigenous participation is not a formal element of the regulatory processes handled by the New Brunswick Energy and Utilities Board or the provincial department of environment.
Project status and oversight
The project proposal calls for a 10-turbine facility combining gas and diesel generation. A Mi’kmaw rights impact assessment is under way, and the North Shore Mi’kmaq Tribal Council had engaged with the matter before the project was publicly announced in July 2025.
Earlier this summer, the provincial auditor-general raised concerns about how the utility planned the project, describing the approach as haphazard in a report released in early June. The AG noted that a recent contract with ProEnergy allows the company to withdraw and recover pre-development costs if an Indigenous partnership has not been finalised by mid-2026.
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Capacity | 500 MW |
| Configuration | 10 turbines using gas and diesel |
| Builder | ProEnergy (U.S.-based) |
| Regulatory bodies | New Brunswick Energy and Utilities Board; provincial Department of Environment |
Local and provincial implications
The remarks come as the province and utility balance obligations to deliver reliable electricity with increasing scrutiny over emissions and the duty to consult Indigenous communities. Allowing the project to proceed without an Indigenous investor could spare the timeline but has drawn attention because contractual language permits ProEnergy to pull out if a partnership is not secured by next year.
For residents of Tantramar and Sackville, the proponent has been presenting to municipal officials to outline project details and mitigation measures. The rights impact assessment remains an active process that could affect approvals and conditions.
- Regulatory review — the Energy and Utilities Board and the environment department oversee approvals and environmental permitting.
- Indigenous process — a Mi’kmaw rights impact assessment is ongoing and Indigenous communities have been offered the option to participate.
- Contractual timeline — ProEnergy’s agreement allows withdrawal and cost recovery if an Indigenous partnership isn’t finalised by mid-2026.
As the project advances, municipal councillors, provincial regulators and Indigenous communities will continue to monitor timelines, environmental assessments and any conditions attached to permits. Public information sessions and formal regulatory filings are the next steps that will provide further detail on how the project would operate and what safeguards would be required.
This report is based on statements delivered to Tantramar council and documentation from the provincial auditor-general’s recent report.
