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.
