Tide turns on turbine timing - Environmental review should be completed before ...

Tide turns on turbine timing

Group: Environmental review should be completed before tidal power projects get government go-ahead

By JUDY MYRDEN Business Reporter
Sat. Jan 19 - 4:47 AM

No pilot tidal projects should be set up in the Bay of Fundy until a strategic environmental assessment is completed, the head of the association conducting the environmental review said Friday.

Lesley Griffiths, with the Offshore Energy Environmental Research Association, said she is concerned about the provincial government’s announcement Jan. 8 in Parrsboro about creating a tidal centre and giving the green light to two pilot projects.

"I think we were surprised that they chose to make it a fairly large event," said Ms. Griffiths, an environmental planner. "We were not surprised they were going to announce what they announced. . . . I am guessing some people probably thought it was a done deal."

Since the announcement, the government has "repeatedly" assured the association no "irreversible decisions" are going to be made about the demonstration projects until the environmental report is completed.

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