Quote from Steve MacLellan on February 28, 2026, 8:30 pm

Big concerns about climate, environment, human and community health, lack of consultation with Mi’kmaq, and tight timelines

Matt Russell didn’t even hear about the two 300-megawatt fossil fuel power generating plants proposed for his native Pictou County until early 2026, weeks after the projects had been submitted to the Nova Scotia Department of Environment and Climate Change for environmental assessment.

When Russell did finally hear about them, he learned that one plant was to be located in Salt Springs close to important salmon habitat in tributaries to the West River, and the other in Marshdale near the East River about 12 kilometres southwest of New Glasgow. He was shocked and alarmed.

Russell said both the West and East Rivers in Pictou County are crucial habitat for Atlantic salmon from the southern Gulf of St. Lawrence population. The salmon are federally listed as a species of special concern and under a lot of stress, Russell explained. He said there are 10 “scheduled” salmon rivers in Nova Scotia that are federally monitored. The West and East Rivers, where wastewater from the gas plants would end up, are two of them.

“Why on earth would we risk damaging two of the 10 rivers that still have this species, when we have 297 rivers in this province?” Russell asked.

Although he is concerned about the environmental impacts of both power plant projects, Russell is particularly worried about the one planned for Salt Springs, and how it could harm salmon in tributaries of the West River.

“To me, it’s like building power plants in the middle of a national park,” he said. “I know it’s not a national park, but to me that section of the West River is just as valuable as any piece of land in this country.”

Russell said many people he knows who share his concerns about the projects didn’t hear about them until after the Feb. 9, 2026 deadline for public comments had passed, and so were unable to make their voices heard.

So far, the gas plants have not received a great deal of public scrutiny or attention. |Read more|