Lisa Griffin is a writer and advocate working on energy justice and environmental policy in Atlantic Canada. She believes that the best decisions are made when communities have the information and power to shape their own futures.
The Chignecto Isthmus is a narrow strip of land connecting New Brunswick to Nova Scotia. It’s a globally significant wildlife corridor and is home to vibrant rural communities in the Tantramar region. As of May 2026, it’s also the approved site of a 500-megawatt gas-and-diesel power plant.
The Protect the Chignecto Isthmus Coalition (PCIC) formed to stop it. Their fight matters far beyond Atlantic Canada.
What’s at Stake
NB Power, partnering with American company ProEnergy, plans to build a large gas-and -diesel peaker plant at Centre Village on the Isthmus. Peaker plants activate during high electricity demand. But they’re not the only option, and this project, called RIGS (for Renewables Integration and Grid Security), comes with serious financial, environmental, and due process problems.
PCIC grew from concerned residents into a multi-organizational coalition spanning environmental groups, Indigenous nations, seniors’ advocates, economists, lawyers, and academics across provinces. They share one conviction: RIGS is the wrong answer, approved through a flawed process that ignored cleaner, cheaper alternatives.
The Environmental Damage
The plant sits directly on the Chignecto Isthmus wildlife corridor, a critical land bridge for migratory birds and Nova Scotia’s moose population. Habitat fragmentation from construction threatens species that depend on connected landscapes to survive.
Wetlands, groundwater, and surface water all face risks from industrial operations. Air pollution is a major concern: nitrogen dioxide and PM2.5 particulate matter from the plant will exceed Canadian air quality standards, affecting the health of communities on both sides of the provincial border.
The diesel fuel backup system adds spill risks and additional air pollution. And RIGS would lock in multi-decade greenhouse gas emissions that directly conflict with provincial, federal, and Paris-aligned climate goals.
Noise and light pollution from the facility would disrupt nearby communities and wildlife behavior — compounding the damage to an ecosystem already under pressure from climate change and development.
The Red Flags
New Brunswick’s Auditor General found that NB Power signed a US$55.1 million contract with ProEnergy before the plant had official approval — putting ratepayers on the hook for financial penalties before the public had any say.
Expert evidence before the Energy and Utilities Board (EUB), including analysis by Synapse Energy Economics, showed battery energy storage was a viable alternative that wasn’t properly examined.
The EUB approved RIGS anyway on May 29, 2026.
The Fight Back
PCIC didn’t stop when the plant was approved.
The coalition filed a judicial review of the EUB’s decision, arguing the process failed standards of procedural fairness owed to the public and Indigenous rights-holders. Community members filed a formal complaint with the Competition Bureau. PCIC petitioned the federal Environment Minister, submitted a formal provincial environmental impact assessment objection, and made a submission through the One Canadian Economy federal consultation.
On the ground, PCIC co-led the People’s MOU Day of Action — a public demonstration outside a federal minister’s office alongside Elsipogtog/Warrior Society and Seniors for Climate Tantramar. The coalition has presented to municipal councils and kept the public informed through plain-language communications and sustained media engagement.
Why This Matters Everywhere
RIGS is a test case for Canada.
Will regulators genuinely analyze clean alternatives? Will Indigenous rights be respected in energy decisions? Do ratepayers get a voice before contracts are signed behind closed doors?
The impacts cross borders — PCIC has filed letters with federal departments over air and water quality concerns affecting Nova Scotia. And RIGS previews choices every province will face as aging electricity grids scramble for fast answers to rising demand.
The Fight Continues
The judicial review is before the courts. Federal advocacy continues. The coalition keeps growing.
PCIC welcomes partners who want to stand with them.
Learn more or get involved: www.atlanticwildlife.ca/pcic
