Pictou County’s upcoming natural gas and diesel power plants will no longer utilize large amounts of water for their operations, as announced by the grid operator. This decision to shift to a “dry system” comes following public backlash against the initial plans for two gas-fired plants, which raised concerns about potential environmental harm.
Originally, the proposed plants were set to extract 175,000 liters of water per hour from deep wells to cool the system and control air emissions. However, feedback from the community and new studies led the Independent Energy System Operator (IESO) to revise their approach. The grid operator will now require a low-water technology known as “dry low NOx” for emissions control in the upcoming power plants.
The IESO will not construct the plants themselves but will seek proposals from companies to build and operate the facilities under contract. The choice of technology will depend on the proposals received, with options such as using ammonia instead of water. Despite assurances that ammonia discharge into nearby watersheds is not expected, concerns remain about potential environmental impacts, especially on the East and West River watersheds that are vital habitats for Atlantic salmon.
While the shift to low-water technology eliminates the discharge of wastewater into watersheds, critics like marine ecologist Matt Russell raise concerns about the overall negative impact of introducing fossil fuel plants to the area. Community members, such as Raina McDonald from the advocacy group Living Ecosystems and Power (LEAP), continue to voice opposition to the construction of the plants, citing destruction of wetlands and potential risks from fuel storage containers.
Moving forward, the IESO faces criticism for what some perceive as inadequate consultation with local residents. Despite the changes made in response to community feedback, concerns about the environmental consequences of the power plants persist among stakeholders in Pictou County.