For Immediate Release
23 August, 2022
NL NDP Leader and MHA for St. John’s Centre Jim Dinn says investment in renewable energy can be a positive development. The project needs to be transparent, fit within a broader just transition plan, and provide a community benefits agreement about the project.
“Investing in the market potential in renewable energies is key to ensuring the province and international markets can transition away from non-renewable, environmentally catastrophic sources of energy, and is something the NL NDP has been championing for years. Most recently we called for a just transition plan to protect workers and communities from the energy shift, this resolution has been ignored by government,” said Dinn.
“However, as with every energy development, the project’s success will depend on its ability to provide benefits to the local community, economic and decarbonisation benefits to the province, and good unionized jobs that employ local workers first.
“While it is exciting to see this government, and international markets, pool resources into renewable projects made right here in this province, without a just transition plan the question remains what the province’s energy portfolio will become as the world continues to turn away from non-renewable sources of energy like oil and gas.
“This international project is case and point to where the world is going. This province needs to create a just transition plan that ensures local people have training in skills required for the future of energy to avoid another industry collapse like this province saw in the cod fishery.
“It is vital that the local community be on board with this project to keep momentum going for renewable projects. Community, and environmental reviews need to be given proper consideration.
“What we wouldn’t want to see is this project to be rushed through environmental approval, community engagement, and government regulations. These are areas, along with government investment in specialized skills training programs, that could be addressed through a just transition plan.
“I, and my colleagues in the NL NDP Caucus, look forward to learning more about this project and the benefits it can bring to the province, and the world.”
-30-
For further information, contact Eddy St. Coeur, Director of Communications, NDP Caucus at 729-2137 (o), or eddystcoeur@gov.nl.ca