Panel Finds Proposed Churchill Falls Energy Deal Not in Newfoundland and Labrador's Best Interest

A three-person panel appointed by the Newfoundland and Labrador government concluded that a proposed energy deal with Hydro-Quebec is not in the province's best long-term interest. The report examines a non-binding framework agreement signed in 2024 to share power from the Churchill Falls generating station in Labrador.

The panel found that the agreement does not provide Newfoundland and Labrador with enough power for energy-intensive industries such as mining.

The report states that Newfoundland and Labrador would receive more revenue from Hydro-Quebec but would forgo economic growth tied to greater access to electricity. It also notes that the province would lack transmission capacity to sell power to export markets.

The panel was formed in December to assess whether the draft deal serves the best long-term interests of the province. The agreement, which would run until 2075, would give Hydro-Quebec roughly 80 percent of more than 9,000 megawatts of power from the Churchill River.

Officials said the report will be released Tuesday at 12:30 p.m.

NT and will be carried live on CBC platforms. The panel members decided not to present the report in person, stating that the document speaks for itself. The report's executive summary indicates that the government could pursue a revised agreement with Hydro-Quebec that better serves the public interest.