Natural Gas Access In New Brunswick

Natural gas is available in select areas of New Brunswick. Liberty Utilities, formerly Enbridge Gas New Brunswick, has over 852km of pipeline servicing 14 communities in southern New Brunswick. These communities include Dieppe, Dorchester, Fredericton, Hanwell, Havelock, Moncton, Lincoln, Oromocto, Riverview, Sackville, Saint John, Sitansisk (St. Mary’s First Nation), St. George, and St. Stephen. Natural gas development in New Brunswick has been a topic of debate, with some groups criticising the government's approach of approving gas development in certain areas. New Brunswick currently imports natural gas from the United States via the Maritimes and Northeast Pipeline.

Natural gas is available in 14 communities in southern New Brunswick

The 14 communities that currently have access to natural gas include Dieppe, Dorchester, Fredericton, Hanwell, Havelock, Moncton, Lincoln, Oromocto, Riverview, Sackville, Saint John, Sitansisk (St. Mary's First Nation), St. George, and St. Stephen. These communities are spread across the southern region of New Brunswick, and Liberty Utilities continues to expand its reach.

The development of natural gas in New Brunswick has been a subject of discussion among residents and the government. The province has a history of oil and gas exploration, and the responsible application of hydraulic fracturing (fracking) has been a point of contention. While fracking was banned by the Gallant government in 2014, the Higgs government has taken a different approach by approving gas development in certain areas.

New Brunswick's natural gas reserves are smaller compared to major gas-producing regions in North America. However, there is still tremendous economic potential in developing these resources. The province has the opportunity to attract business investment and contribute to the lowering of emissions by safely harnessing its natural gas resources.

Liberty Utilities manages the natural gas pipelines in New Brunswick

Natural gas is available in New Brunswick, with Liberty Utilities managing the natural gas pipelines in the region. The company provides local utility management, service, and support for small and mid-sized communities across North America. Liberty Utilities has over 852km of pipelines, servicing 14 communities in southern New Brunswick. These include Dieppe, Dorchester, Fredericton, Hanwell, Havelock, Moncton, Lincoln, Oromocto, Riverview, Sackville, Saint John, Sitansisk (St. Mary’s First Nation), St. George, and St. Stephen.

Liberty Utilities is a subsidiary of Algonquin Power & Utilities Corp. (APUC), which completed the acquisition of Enbridge Gas New Brunswick Limited Partnership, a regulated utility providing natural gas to approximately 12,000 customers in 12 communities across New Brunswick. Liberty delivers safe and reliable natural gas through its underground pipelines to over 350,000 customer connections.

The company has been working to shape how people fuel their homes and businesses, offering a significantly lower-cost alternative compared to other energy sources. For instance, natural gas can be up to 54.4% cheaper for large commercial customers compared to oil and up to 31.8% more affordable for homeowners than electricity. Liberty Utilities has also been proactive in adjusting natural gas rates to enhance the customer experience and make natural gas a more cost-effective energy option.

In addition to its focus on customer service and affordability, Liberty Utilities prioritises safety and reliability in its natural gas operations. The company encourages safe digging practices and participates in initiatives like the Atlantic Canada Common Ground Alliance to prevent accidents during digging projects. Liberty Utilities is committed to being a responsible and sustainable energy provider, as evidenced by its parent company's recognition in the 2020 Bloomberg Gender-Equality Index and the Corporate Knights' Global 100 Most Sustainable Corporations in the World.

Natural gas is transported to/from New Brunswick via the Maritimes & Northeast Pipeline

Natural gas is available in New Brunswick, Canada, via the Maritimes & Northeast Pipeline (M&NP). This 1,101-kilometre mainline transmission pipeline was a significant energy project that brought natural gas to areas of Atlantic Canada and the Northeastern United States, including New Brunswick, that previously did not have access to this energy source.

The M&NP system consists of an underground mainline running from Goldboro, Nova Scotia, through Nova Scotia and New Brunswick, up to the Canadian-US border near Baileyville, Maine. The pipeline continues through several US states and connects with the existing North American pipeline grid in Dracut, Massachusetts.

In New Brunswick, the pipeline delivers natural gas to several communities in the southern part of the province. Liberty Utilities operates over 852 kilometres of pipeline, serving 14 communities, including Dieppe, Fredericton, Moncton, Saint John, and Sackville. These communities are located along the pipeline route, which runs through the province from the border with Nova Scotia in the south to the US border near Maine in the north.

The introduction of natural gas through the Maritimes & Northeast Pipeline has provided a cleaner, more efficient, and cost-competitive energy source to the region. The pipeline has added market delivery points in various locations across New Brunswick, ensuring a reliable supply of natural gas to the province.

The Canaport LNG terminal in Saint John is Canada's only large-scale LNG import terminal

Natural gas is available in New Brunswick, with Liberty Utilities (formerly Enbridge Gas New Brunswick) holding the franchise for the distribution of gas in the province. The company has over 852km of pipeline servicing 14 communities in southern New Brunswick, including Dieppe, Fredericton, Moncton, and Saint John.

The Canaport LNG terminal in Saint John, New Brunswick, plays a crucial role in the distribution of natural gas in the region. The terminal, formerly known as the Canaport LNG Terminal, is Canada's first LNG terminal and the first built in eastern North America in 30 years. It is capable of receiving the largest LNG tankers globally and has a substantial capacity of handling 1,200,000,000 cubic feet of LNG per day. This amount is sufficient to heat five million homes, showcasing the terminal's significant contribution to meeting the energy demands of the northeastern United States and Canada.

The Canaport LNG terminal is located on the north shore of the Bay of Fundy, approximately 9 km southeast of Saint John. It was commissioned in 2008, and its construction coincided with the development of the Brunswick Pipeline, which transports natural gas from the terminal to markets. The terminal consists of a robust infrastructure, including a pier with a terminal jetty, insulated storage tanks, and a regasification facility.

The terminal is owned by Repsol, a Spanish energy company, which acquired full ownership in 2021. The construction of the Canaport LNG terminal involved several partnerships and negotiations. Initially, Irving Oil, a prominent oil company in the region, applied for a permit to add liquefied natural gas (LNG) to its existing Canaport deep-water crude receiving terminal. The permit was granted in 2004, leading to a partnership between Irving Oil and Repsol S.A. to develop the LNG terminal. Construction began in 2005, and the facility received its first shipment of LNG in June 2009.

In summary, the Canaport LNG terminal in Saint John, New Brunswick, is indeed Canada's only large-scale LNG import terminal, with the capacity to handle massive volumes of LNG and supply a significant portion of the energy demands in the northeastern regions of the United States and Canada. The terminal's infrastructure, ownership, and strategic location contribute to its pivotal role in the distribution of natural gas, making it a key energy hub in the region.

Natural gas development in New Brunswick often relies on hydraulic fracturing (fracking)

Natural gas is available in select areas of New Brunswick. Liberty Utilities has over 852km of pipeline servicing 14 communities in southern New Brunswick, including Dieppe, Fredericton, Moncton, Saint John, and St. George.

In 2019, the provincial government partially lifted a moratorium on fracking in the Sussex area, allowing for the resumption of shale gas development. This decision was met with opposition from environmental and First Nations groups, who cited a lack of consultation. Corridor Resources, a company seeking to extract natural gas in the region, shelved its plans due to "regulatory uncertainty" and a lack of clarity from the provincial government regarding applications for an exemption to the moratorium.

The New Brunswick Commission on Hydraulic Fracturing has released a final report outlining the potential economic, health, and environmental impacts of shale gas development, as well as mitigation options for any potential negative consequences. The report also emphasizes the importance of nation-to-nation consultation with Indigenous groups before lifting any moratoriums on fracking.

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