NB Power is proposing a $180-million project aimed at modernizing the electricity grid across southern New Brunswick.

The Saint John Corridor Project involves the addition of 37 kilometres of transmission lines throughout the Saint John region.

• A 32-kilometre line from the Coleson Cove Generating Station to the Glen Falls area on the city’s east side
• A five-kilometre line between the South Bay area and the west side of the city near Reversing Falls

The proposed project also involves adding a third power transformer at the Coleson Cove Generating Station.

Albert Dupuis, a senior project manager with NB Power’s Enterprise Project Management Office, said the upgrades are key as electricity demand continues to grow.

“The project is essential to meeting future electricity needs, supporting clean energy growth and ensuring reliable power for communities and businesses in the region,” Dupuis told our newsroom.

“The project is a key part of our plan to modernize the grid, improve reliability and support the transition to cleaner energy sources.”

Open houses

Officials with the provincial electric utility held a pair of open houses in Saint John this week to give residents the chance to learn more about the project and offer feedback.

Dupuis said they had good attendance at the events, and the feedback they received was generally supportive of the work.

“Some of the impacted landowners had more detailed questions. Where are the towers going? How is it going to impact their properties? And, they came looking for information, and I believe we were able to answer their questions,” he said.

“It’s a continuing process with us. The open house is a great opportunity to get information, but we strongly support continuing conversations with the landowners, right until the end of the project.”

Construction to take around 3 years

Dupuis said design work is nearly complete for the project, and they are currently going through the environmental impact assessment process with the Department of Environment.

“That process will probably continue now for another few months. We’ve gone in front of our Energy and Utilities Board for approval to proceed, so we’ve had the hearings back in June and we’re awaiting the results,” he said.

In the meantime, the utility’s real estate group and right-of-way agents are out speaking with landowners to secure land rights for the transmission lines.

Dupuis said they are preparing to start construction activities this winter, pending approval, and hope to have the project completed by the fall of 2028.

You can learn more about the project and find out how to submit comments on the utility’s website.