FREDERICTON, New Brunswick, Jan 15, 2026, 12:20 AST
- New Brunswick’s minister supports proposals for major industries to self-supply renewable energy beyond NB Power’s grid
- Utility says moving major customers off the public grid might drive up bills for the rest of the ratepayers
- NB Power is already locked into a 200-megawatt wind supply agreement with a J.D. Irving subsidiary
New Brunswick’s natural resources minister supports J.D. Irving Ltd. and other major industrial users in their bid to produce renewable electricity independently of NB Power’s grid—the main network serving most customers. NB Power warns this move could drive up costs for the rest. 1
The dispute hits a sensitive spot: soaring power costs for heavy industry and growing worries about rising household bills. It comes at a tricky time, with the utility scrambling to boost supply and maintain system reliability.
NB Power warned it could face an energy shortfall as soon as 2028 and has been locking in new renewable supply contracts. “Wind power helps reduce upward pressure on rates because it is cost-effective when the wind is blowing,” CEO Lori Clark said in December, announcing a 200-megawatt wind power purchase agreement with Brighton Mountain Wind Limited, a J.D. Irving subsidiary. (Power purchase agreements are long-term supply contracts.) 2
The story gained traction following reports that the province’s largest forestry firm is pushing for renewable energy projects that sidestep the public grid. 3
Irving Pulp and Paper vice-president Mark Mosher said the company is targeting wind energy to supply its own operations. “Our ultimate goal is to get into the wind business to feed our own internal operations,” Mosher said. 4
NB Power’s worry is clear: big customers cover a chunk of the fixed costs for wires, upkeep, and system upgrades. Lose those heavy users, and the financial picture shifts for everyone else on the grid.
The minister has pitched this as a competitiveness problem for forestry and other energy-heavy industries. A Telegraph-Journal report put it bluntly: industry needs the ability to “defend themselves” against soaring power costs. 5
Since 2024, NB Power has inked power purchase agreements for 675 megawatts of renewable energy. The company is also actively running competitive processes to add more projects to the grid.
The policy shift carries significant risks. Allowing companies to tap into the public grid without following the utility’s rate system could spark disputes over who foots the bill for debt, transmission maintenance, and backup power during calm winds.
Several provinces have rolled out initiatives to provide large customers with cleaner, more reliable power—while keeping utilities involved. Nova Scotia’s Green Choice Program, started in 2023, connects big users directly to new wind farms expected to be up and running by the end of 2028. 6
