The Gallant government will do everything it can to have TransCanada continue the National Energy Board process for the Energy East pipeline but it’s possible the energy company won’t.
That from premier Brian Gallant who says the NEB’s new review parameters are not clear and that lack of clarity puts all of the proponents in a position where they don’t really know what information they have to give or what they have to prove to get approvals.
“Any time you have a proponent of any major project like the Energy East pipeline that costs lots of money to be able to apply to get it to become a reality, you need clarity,” says Gallant. “So what I’m going to do over the next few weeks is do whatever I can to try and offer clarity to everyone on exactly what the NEB is asking for.”
Gallant says there’s no doubt having TransCanada announce they want to suspend their application for 30 days isn’t good news for those, like his government, who want to see this pipeline built. He believes the Energy East pipeline is one that could ultimately be approved.
“We’re convinced that if TransCanada continues with the process, the project would be approved…but to understand TransCanada’s position what was announced by the NEB recently is not necessarily clear when it comes to what TransCanada has to do now,” says Gallant.