Deal reached on Lower Churchill project

ST. JOHN'S, NEWFOUNDLAND AND LABRADOR - A $6.2-billion deal has been reached to develop power from the proposed Lower Churchill hydroelectric project in Labrador, Emera Inc. announced.

Emera says under the agreement, Newfoundland and LabradorÂ’s Crown utility, Nalcor Energy, would spend $2.9 billion to build a power generating facility at Muskrat Falls.

A transmission link from Labrador to Newfoundland would cost $2.1 billion, $600 million of which would be provided by Emera.

A link between Newfoundland to Nova Scotia would cost $1.2 billion, all funded by Emera, which owns Nova Scotia Power.

In a statement issued by Emera, Premiers Danny Williams and Darrell Dexter touted the agreement as one that would provide cleaner, affordable electricity and boost Atlantic CanadaÂ’s economy.

“This is an extremely exciting and proud day for our province as we move forward with plans to develop the Lower Churchill project — the most attractive clean, renewable energy project in North America,” Williams said in a statement.

“This is an historic day for Nova Scotia and all of Atlantic Canada,” added Dexter. “It lifts the idea of Atlantic co-operation off the page and turns it into fundamental action, building a more prosperous nation.”

The agreement is subject to approval by regulators in Nova Scotia and Newfoundland and Labrador. Under the agreement, Nova Scotia would receive 20 per cent of the power generated at Muskrat Falls for 35 years.

Emera has been in negotiations to develop Lower Churchill power since a memorandum of understanding was signed in January 2008.

Nalcor officials have said it would take about five years to get energy flowing to Nova Scotia once a deal is signed.

Last month, Williams announced he was pursuing the Lower Churchill project in two phases. He said his plan was to build a generating station at Muskrat Falls, followed by a larger facility upriver at Gull Island.

The multibillion-dollar project has been on the drawing board in one form or another for decades. In 1980, it passed an environmental assessment but was set aside due to concerns over market access and financing.

Concerns over the loss of habitat that would result from the development of the project have also stalled its progress. But Nalcor has promised to develop a compensation plan to make up for that.

The desire to build more power plants on the Churchill River in central Labrador can be traced back to 1972, when the Churchill Falls hydroelectric dam was finished with QuebecÂ’s help.

Under that deal, which doesnÂ’t expire until 2041 and is often criticized by Williams, Quebec has reaped more than $19 billion in profits while Newfoundland has pocketed only $1 billion, according to the Newfoundland and Labrador government.

As a result of that deal, Newfoundland and Labrador has sought an alternate route for Lower Churchill power that bypasses Quebec.