The Honourable Don MacKinnon, Minister responsible for the PEI Energy Corporation, today announced government's intention to solicit natural gas development plans for Prince Edward Island.
"The Corporation will be issuing an Expression of Interest document which will provide developers with the opportunity to describe the details of their proposed development plans, as well as the impacts that their plans will have on the Island economy," MacKinnon said. Developers will also be required to demonstrate their technical and financial abilities to implement their plans.
The development of the Sable Offshore Energy Project, and the subsequent construction of the Maritimes & Northeast pipeline to deliver natural gas to markets within the Maritimes and the Northeastern Unites States, provides a timely opportunity for the Province to access and take advantage of the benefits associated with natural gas.
"The request for Expressions of Interest is the first stage of a process to fully assess the feasibility of constructing a natural gas pipeline to Prince Edward Island," said MacKinnon. "From this stage of the process the Province will be able to determine the level of interest of qualified developers in establishing a natural gas industry on PEI."
The Expression of Interest document requires that developers consider: maximizing the amount of electricity generated on-Island utilizing natural gas as a fuel source; providing a staged natural gas distribution plan for P.E.I.; and providing natural gas access for the Province's large industrial users.
"The development plan that most adequately addresses these requirements should enable the Province to satisfy long-term energy, environmental and economic development policy objectives centered around energy price equity, energy diversity, clean air issues and industrial expansion," said Mr. MacKinnon.
Developers have until April 28th, 2000, to submit their responses to the request for Expressions of Interest.