David Raymond Amos@DavidRayAmos Replying to @DavidRayAmos@Kathryn98967631 and 48 others Methinks nobody can deny that I told off the EUB and their many cohorts during the Public Session in Fat Fred City before the latest circus began N'esy Pas?
Joi Scientific gamble necessary to help cap carbon tax bill: NB Power
107 Comments
Al Clark What comes out of the bull's anterior orifice.....
Marguerite Deschamps
Reply to @Al Clark: you!
Bernard McIntyre
Reply to @Al Clark: I guess some people can say what they want to while others can't . big brother is watching.
David Amos
Reply to @Bernard McIntyre: True
David Amos Methinks it must be a slow "news" day because Murphy said this nonsense last Tuesday N'esy Pas?
Bernard McIntyre
Reply to @David Amos: Well come to the circus. Prohibited for saying the same the same as other people and not as bad as others,
David Amos
Reply to @Bernard McIntyre: "Well come to the circus"
I should welcome you to the circus as well. I suspect that you must be aware I was barred as an intervener again but I went anyway in order to assist my friend Roger Richard. Furthermore nobody can deny that I told off the EUB and their many cohorts during the the Public Session in Fat Fred City before the latest circus began Anyone can download the questionable transcripts from the public records of the EUB Methinks its a small wonder that we can't get the recordings of the hearings like CBC can N'esy Pas?
David Amos
Reply to @David Amos: These documents can be sourced from the records of the 375 Matter Day 1 of the very long hearing was 02/07/2018
VICE-CHAIRMAN: I was a bit surprised when I heard this morning and yesterday that you are entering into a contract at the end of February and is that with respect to the purchase of the smart meters?
MS. CLARK: That's correct.
VICE-CHAIRMAN: So how can you enter into a contract without the firm approval of this Board, if we are going to approve or not the AMI? How prudent is that?
MS. CLARK: So we are at the end stages of the contract in terms of just the final terms and conditions, but we have been very clear that we -- with the vendor -- and they recognize that, because we also have Nova Scotia Power, who is part of our consortium, who also needs Board approval. So should we not get -- this is conditional on EUB approval. So should we not get EUB approval, the contract would not proceed.
VICE-CHAIRMAN: Now there was discussion yesterday, I think it was with Mr. Stoll regarding time of use and time based pricing, and so I went through the evidence this morning, and in your main evidence, and I think one of the objective of having the AMI going forward to a time of use price structure -- rate structure. So am I understanding that correctly?
David Amos
Reply to @David Amos:
MS. CLARK: That is correct. And in the evidence, we did answer an interrogatory on that and you will see that AMI is an enabler for time varying rates in the Energy Smart NB Plan. And we did have time varying rates included in our investment rationale. We took it out, because we couldn't -- we couldn't pinpoint without more detail as to what those time varying rates may be and the benefit of those, so we took them out of the investment rationale at this point in time, but certainly it's something that we are looking at in the future.
VICE-CHAIRMAN: So the fundamental question here is that the Board should heard -- or hear Matter 357 before approving the AMI? So if we don't approve time of use, that basically what will happen with your AMI, I mean it's -- if we don't approve the time of use, which we are going to hear next year, how can we proceed in approving the AMI before we look at the rate structure?
MS. CLARK: As we have talked about in our investment rationale, there are a number of other benefits to both the customer and to the utility over and above time varying rates that we believe are important for the utility and for the movement forward of our Energy Smart New Brunswick plan. Many of those benefits accrue to the customer. And many of those benefits accrue to the utility and ultimately the customer. So even if we were not to move in the direction of time varying rates, we believe that the investment rationale supports the AMI installation based on the other investment -- or based on the other benefits that it provides.
Shawn McShane
Reply to @David Amos: There will be no benefit to the customer just as there is no benefit to the customer with NB Power CEO giving $13 million to his company in Florida.
David Amos
Reply to @Shawn McShane: Methinks 122 million for smart meters is not chump change Furthermore nobody has seen the contract with Shediac yet N'esy Pas?
Joseph Vacher This is such a joke - admit you made a terrible mistake, and move on
Shawn McShane
Reply to @Marguerite Deschamps: You pay NB Power bill too.
Marguerite Deschamps
Reply to @Shawn McShane: how do you know? I could be off the grid.
David Amos
Content disabled
Reply to @Marguerite Deschamps: Methinks you are definitely off your rocker N'esy Pas?
David Amos
Reply to @Marguerite Deschamps: Why else would your comment go "Poof" before I could enjoy reading it?
David Amos
Reply to @David Amos: Too Too Funny My reply is now gone even after I got several likes
Paul Bourgoin New Brunswick, when it comes to marketing the sale of our NB energy, the electricity should be non-negotiable for everybody so industry pays the same as other industries and home owners the same thing bringing an end to Political behind closed doors sweetheart deals. NB Power CEO and the board cannot secretly lower the established NB Power electricity prices.
David Amos
Reply to @Paul Bourgoin: Methinks you missed the boat about the increases in the various rates for this year because the last day of the public hearing is tomorrow However you should pay close attention to the 357 Matter that many lawyers agree will be ongoing within the EUB for years N'esy Pas?
Shawn McShane "Green technology" as in how green is your money when converted to United States Dollars at Gaëtan Thomas company in Florida...
David Amos
Reply to @Shawn McShane: Methinks you should not forget the mininukes N'esy Pas?
Roy Nichol There's a new angle on greenwashing. We've done something imprudent, let's say we had to take the risk in the name of clean energy and climate change ... just do not mention there are plenty of proved clean energy sources that could be deployed with certainty that would actually produce energy today.
Mark (Junkman) George
Reply to @Roy Nicholl:
I am simply in awe. I would like to know how it feels to gamble $13 million? Has to be a bit of a "rush", doesn't it Gaëtan ?
David Amos
Reply to @Mark (Junkman) George: Methinks the "rush" is over and Gaëtan is regretting it bigtime about now N'esy Pas?
Greg Miller With degrees in science I have trouble buying this "new technology" although the process has been investigated for decades. I wish them every success; however, don't be fooled -- if this process is implemented successfully don't think for a moment that your electric bills will go down!
David Amos
Reply to @Greg Miller: "if this process is implemented successfully don't think for a moment that your electric bills will go down"
I Wholeheartedly Agree Sir
Matthew Smith good enough for me; I'll just go out and buy lottery tickets with the money for next month's power bill ...
David Amos
Reply to @Matthew Smith: I had to prepay an estimated NB Power Bill for a couple months before they would take a chance with me and hook me up. Methinks its a rather huge insult that NB Power will gamble with our assets with Yankees while not trusting its own stakeholders N'esy Pas?
Mario Doucet Quebec pays no carbon taxes.
John Pokiok
Reply to @Mario Doucet: that's because all of their power is produced by damming rivers and using water to produce power that's green renewable energy. They don't use coal oil or nuclear like NB.
David Amos Reply to @John Pokiok: True
John Pokiok I wish they used $13 million and fix the musquavash power dam and put it back online that is clean hydro energy it would be lot better spent money than this.
David Amos
Reply to @John Pokiok: Me Too
Anne Bérubé Paying carton tax on a fuel fill-up is going to have precisely no effect on emissions. Why on earth people still thinking it makes a difference? Gee, are you still going to work, grocery stores, malls, etc? Wake up people, there are other ways than giving your money to Justin Trudeau at the Gofundmycarbontax.ca!!!
Marc Martin Reply to @Anne Bérubé: Andrew Sheer said he would remove the tax but put in on industries which will increase anything anyways.
David Amos Reply to @Marc Martin: Cry me another river
Al Clark I remember this argument happening once before when GNB was dumping money into a clearly failed company to the tune of 80 million. A five year old could see what was going to result. Oh don't worry, it's just a LOAN many said. Then, the ultra predictable happened. The money mysteriously disappeared. Now , many years later, the star of the show is sitting at his old desk like a quarter billion didn't happen. Great work if you can get it. Hoot and holler all you want, it's a done deal. Deja vu.
Shawn McShane Reply to @Al Clark: Welcome to the circus.
David Amos
Reply to @Shawn McShane: Methinks you finally understand why I have been saying that for so long N'esy Pas?
Daryl Doucette " It would be costlier to do nothing". Could some one please explain how losing $ 13,000,000 is " costlier" than not losing $ 13,000,000 ?
David Amos
Reply to @daryl doucette: Methinks the NB Power CFO Darren Murphy does not know how to give a straight answer and keep his job N'esy Pas?
David White
Anyone remember Theranos?
David Amos
Reply to @David White: Better yet does anyone remember my comments before the last election?
Here is one example about the iron plant mentioned in this article
Reply to @David Amos: "Maritime Iron CEO Greg McKenzie could not be reached for comment Friday."
However he bragged of this not long ago
"Maritime Iron Enters into LOI with Mi’gmaq Communities and MTI
Toronto, Ontario (April 25, 2019) – Maritime Iron Inc. (“Maritime Iron” or the “Company”) a privately-owned Canadian development company advancing a merchant pig iron production facility in New Brunswick, Canada, is pleased to announce that it has entered into a Letter of Intent with the Mi’gmaq communities of Oinpegitjoig (Pabineau First Nation), Ugpi’ganjig (Eel River Bar) (the “First Nation Communities”) and Mi’gmawe’l Tplu’taqnn Inc (“MTI”).
The purpose of the Letter of Intent is to assist in the development of a framework for several agreements and understandings to be undertaken between the parties.
“Maritime Iron has continued to build a strong relationship with MTI and the Chief’s and Staff of the First Nation Communities. We have held numerous meetings over the past two years which has led us to this point.” said Greg McKenzie, Chairman and CEO of Maritime Iron. “Maritime Iron will continue to approach consultation with an open mind and conduct our business with integrity while dealing in good faith with First Nations. Maritime Iron’s approach to consultation is undertaken in a spirit of mutual respect and trust.”
The parties have agreed that the ‘Relationship, Engagement and Consultation Protocol’ signed by the Belledune Port Authority, First Nation Communities, and MTI on May 31, 2018 will guide and direct the activities of the parties. The Belledune Port Authority has delegated their authority under the protocol agreement to Maritime Iron."
Joi Scientific gamble necessary to help cap carbon tax bill: NB Power
Utility's clean-energy venture seemingly at odds with proposed iron-ore plant
NB Power paid $13 million to Florida-based Joi Scientific for the licensing fee for unproven clean-energy technology. (Michael Heenan/CBC)
NB Power has told the province's energy regulator that the utility's exposure to carbon pricing forces it to explore new technologies that carry financial risk, including an unproven process to convert seawater into hydrogen energy.
Utility officials told the Energy and Utilities Board that while it's possible NB Power will lose money in its partnership with Joi Scientific, it would be even costlier to do nothing.
But they were not able to answer questions about the financial health of the Florida start-up, which has received $13 million from NB Power.
"It is very early stages," chief financial officer Darren Murphy said during questioning by an EUB lawyer at a hearing last week. "I can't speak directly to that particular company."
Murphy described the $13-million payment to Joi — a licensing fee for what the company says is its zero-carbon-emissions technology — as "a small amount" that may help NB Power avoid a much larger carbon tax bill.
"We have got some significant challenges, one of those challenges being carbon and what is the implication to that," Murphy said, pegging the utility's future carbon price bill as $80-90 million per year if it doesn't cut emissions.
"We need to explore every opportunity to mitigate and minimize this carbon impact on the ratepayers of New Brunswick.
NB Power CFO Darren Murphy said the agreement with Joi was partly to mitigate the effect of carbon pricing on ratepayers. (Robert Jones/CBC)
But Murphy couldn't say whether Joi, which claims to have discovered a new method to extract energy from seawater, is financially viable.
Nor was Murphy able to say what kind of increase in greenhouse gas emissions would come from another initiative: a proposed iron-ore processing plant linked to the Belledune generating station.
"I know that there is some ongoing dialogue to try to appreciate the implications of a facility like that," Murphy said.
Maritime Iron Inc., has acknowledged that its plant would lead to more carbon dioxide emissions in the province.
That leaves NB Power in the position of pursuing one partnership that may increase emissions — while justifying another by pointing to the need to reduce them.
NB Power must find a new fuel source for its coal-powered Belledune generating station by 2030, when a federal coal phaseout takes effect. That forces it to look at new technologies, Murphy said.
Joi Scientific has kept its potentially groundbreaking but unproven technology a secret.
NB Power's $13-million licensing fee to Joi Scientific will give it exclusive rights to first use of the unproven technology, which the company has so far refused to describe publicly or submit for peer-reviewed studies.
The plan is to use the technology to partly power Belledune or a network of smaller generators. If it works, NB Power can sell the rights to other power utilities and keep a share of the profits. Some energy experts and scientists say Joi's claims are too good to be true.
Recognizing the risk
Half of the $13-million licensing fee came from taxpayers through the province's Regional Development Corporation and half came from NB Power's own research and development budget.
Murphy said the utility recognizes that such spending "will not always turn out with a positive outcome and there will be some need to invest some amount of money that ultimately may not pan out."
He said that's why NB Power uses what it calls a "gating process" to "put boundaries around how much should you put at risk before deciding that this is not a venture that is going to play out."
NB Power CEO Gaëtan Thomas was given a seat on Joi's board of directors. (Jon Collicott/CBC)
NB Power CEO Gaëtan Thomas was given a seat on the Joi board of directors "so we could have greater insights as to the organization's operations, its viability, all those kinds of things," Murphy told the EUB.
Even so, he said he was not able to "speak directly" to Joi's financial health.
Hold judgment, asks Joi CEO
In a recent interview with CBC News, Joi CEO Traver Kennedy pointed to what he said was his long career in the software and clean-energy sector.
"I think that while there's often suspicion of corporations and corporate greed and corporate activity, the fact is, I think the track record of my career should speak somewhat to wanting to do good in the world and wanting to create value for people," he said.
"So in that sense, I would ask that people hold their judgment of me until we have gotten this to market."
Energy Minister Mike Holland said on a recent CBC New New Brunswick Political Panel podcast that he hopes the Joi project bears fruit, but he wants to "get to the bottom of" how the deal will work.
At last week's hearing, EUB lawyer Ellen Desmond asked Murphy why NB Power didn't leave the development of new technologies to private-sector investors, rather than putting ratepayers' money at risk.
"It would be nice if we could leave it to others to come up with solutions," Murphy answered. "The others don't have the risk NB Power has."
He said the utility "can't get out from under" that risk.
EUB lawyer Ellen Desmond questioned why NB Power didn't leave the development of new technologies to private-sector investors. (CBC)
When Desmond suggested that Nova Scotia Power is facing "similar risks," Murphy noted that province signed an offset agreement with the federal government that avoided the imposition of the federal carbon tax.
Rather than negotiate such a deal, the previous Liberal government of New Brunswick decided to adopt the federal carbon-pricing plan for industry.
The new Progressive Conservative government is now developing an alternative plan, but until Ottawa approves it, "we continue to carry that risk and need to be at least working away at trying to mitigate it," Murphy said.
Impact of iron plant unclear
The Maritime Iron plant was announced by then-premier Brian Gallant in June 2018, just weeks before the start of the provincial election campaign.
CBC News later revealed that Gallant's government had started shelling out $625,000 in taxpayer money in 2015-16 for "pre-feasibility studies" for the plant. The company received another $91,699 from the province in 2017-18.
Former premier Brian Gallant said in June 2018 the $1-billion plant in Belledune would create 1,000 short-term jobs and more than 200 permanent jobs. (Serge Bouchard/CBC)
Gallant and the company said at the time that while the iron plant would generate new emissions, using some of its gas byproduct at NB Power's Belledune plan would reduce its coal use and emissions. But Murphy was unable to tell the EUB what the net emissions impacts would be. "Personally, I don't know what those are," he said.
He said ultimately Maritime Iron, not NB Power, "has a big responsibility to research and understand how their facility will be treated from an emissions perspective."
As opposition leader, Premier Blaine Higgs pointed to the Liberal subsidies for Maritime Iron to rebut Gallant's criticism that the PCs lacked a plan on emissions.
"I wouldn't be putting government money into one of the largest emitting plants possible," he said.
Last summer, the company said there would be more details of its emissions impact when it filed its environment impact assessment application. As of Friday, it has not registered for an assessment.
Maritime Iron CEO Greg McKenzie could not be reached for comment Friday.
Jacques Poitras has been CBC's provincial affairs reporter in New Brunswick since 2000. Raised in Moncton, he also produces the CBC political podcast Spin Reduxit.
