Emissions from electricity generation in N.B. jump, after cleaner options fail
Belledune coal-fired generating station emitted roughly 2.4 million tonnes in 2022, up more than 600,000 tonnes
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OTTAWA • There was a 600,000-tonne jump in carbon emissions from electricity generation in New Brunswick, according to new figures released by the federal government.
It came after NB Power’s cleaner generation options failed, and the utility turned to burning more coal and oil to meet demand.
The latest numbers from Environment and Climate Change Canada’s 2024 National Greenhouse Gas Inventory Report show a dramatic spike in carbon emissions from the province’s electricity sector.
It emitted 3.4 million tonnes in 2022, the latest data now released, up from 2.8 million in 2021.
That equates to a 21.4 per cent increase.
It’s the only material jump recorded in the province.
The new numbers show the Irving Oil refinery recording a drop in emissions year over year.
Every other sector in the province either saw declines or emissions levels that remained relatively stable year over year.
The data, released by the federal government this week, reveals that a slight uptick in carbon emissions in New Brunswick was largely due to increased fossil fuel-powered electricity generation.
The Belledune coal-fired generating station emitted roughly 2.4 million tonnes in 2022, up more than 600,000 tonnes from the prior year.
The Coleson Cove Generating Station emitted over 830,000 tonnes, a number that’s nearly double its 2011 total.
NB Power used those two power plants more in 2022 after others failed.
The utility’s nuclear generation station at Point Lepreau was offline for several months after a troubled maintenance outage went on for roughly 100 days.
Financial statements show NB Power was forced to buy $269-million in replacement power, predominantly from Quebec, but that it also offset some of those costs with $34 million in extra revenue from higher-than-expected electricity sales.
Some of the increases in emissions were offset by a drop in carbon pollution from the Bayside Power Station, a plant that had the fourth-highest emissions in the province in 2021 at 347,665 tonnes.
It only emitted 31,505 tonnes in 2022.
But that was after the natural gas generating station in Saint John failed and became inoperable for months until a pricey fix to install a new turbine and generator was completed.
The Conservation Council of New Brunswick said it’s concerned that fossil fuel-powered electricity generation continues to be relied on.
“Continuing to burn fossil fuels for electricity generation is not sustainable,” said Moe Qureshi, the council’s director of climate research and policy. “It’s time to transition away from fossil fuel-powered generating plants towards renewable energy, storage solutions and efficiency measures.”
The Belledune generating station is set to be converted to biomass by 2030 to meet a federal deadline phasing out the use of coal-fired plants.
NB Power did not respond to a request for comment on Wednesday over its increased emissions and whether it’s concerned over a greater reliance on Belledune with a phase-out date inching closer and closer.
Meanwhile, the emissions report shows stable numbers elsewhere.
The Irving Oil refinery recorded a more than 100,000-tonne drop in emissions year over year, while remaining the province’s highest single emitter.
The refinery emitted just under three million tonnes of emissions in 2022.
The entire transportation sector recorded 3.1 million tonnes of emissions, a number that’s unchanged year over year.
Passenger cars were responsible for two million tonnes, while freight, heavy trucks, and rail were largely responsible for the remainder.
Meanwhile, heavy industry emissions remained relatively stable year over year, recording 700,000 tonnes of emissions.
Greenhouse gas emission, tonnes (rank)
Irving Oil Refinery
2022: 2,964,365 (1st)
2021: 3,066,118 (1st)
Belledune Generating Station
2022: 2,381,011 (2nd)
2021: 1,748,909 (2nd)
Coleson Cove Generating Station
2022: 830,539 (3rd)
2021: 429,871 (3rd)
Southeast Regional Service Commission Landfill
2022: 119,390 (4th)
2021: 113 306 (6th)
AV Group Nackawic Mill
2022: 117,022 (5th)
2021: 120,890 (5th)
Bayside Power
2022: 31,505 (18th)
2021: 347,665 (4th)
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