Halifax, Nova Scotia (March 24, 2014) - The Goldboro Liquified Natural Gas project should not have received Department of Environment approval without an emissions management plan in place, say the Ecology Action Centre, the Nova Scotia Fracking Action and Resource Coalition (NOFRAC).
The project was approved with the conditions that the proponents, Pieridae Energy Ltd., develop Air Emissions and Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Emissions plans. Pieridae forecasts the project would result in an 18% increase over Nova Scotia's 2010 GHG emissions by 2020.
“These are flimsy conditions for such a hugely polluting project,” warns Catherine Abreu, EAC Energy Coordinator. “The proponent should have been required to develop acceptable emissions management plans prior to the project being approved. At minimum, the Department of Environment should set limits for the project’s output of GHGs and other pollutants.”
A single project with this magnitude of emissions would have significant implications for Nova Scotia’s ability to meet the legislated reductions of the Environmental Goals and Sustainable Prosperity Act (EGSPA). Under EGSPA, Nova Scotia is set to effect a 15% reduction from 2010 GHG levels by 2020.
Ken Summers of NOFRAC points out now is not the right time to approve a project that would drive demand for gas obtained by fracking in Nova Scotia. “Given the present review of hydraulic fracturing in Nova Scotia and the serious concerns about unconventional gas impacts on the environment and health, this decision could prejudice the fracking review outcome.”
In a release announcing the approval, Environment Minister Randy Delorey cited the potential economic benefits of the project as reason to work with its environmental issues. Abreu questions the actual extent of those benefits.
“Nova Scotians have already seen our electricity rates impacted by the high price and inaccessibility of conventional natural gas,” says Abreu. “The Goldboro LNG plant will take large quantities of natural gas from the region and liquify it for export. It will hurt us to build our own interprovincial competition for a limited and non-renewable resource while our economy still needs it.”
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