HALIFAX - The government of Nova Scotia has no plans to conduct its own cost-benefit analysis of the proposed $6.2-billion Muskrat Falls hydroelectric project in Labrador, Premier Darrell Dexter said Thursday.
"Why would we go to the expense of doing that when it's going to be done in an appropriate forum before the Utility and Review Board?" Dexter said.
"It's their responsibility to do that and my assumption is that they will."
Conservative Leader Jamie Baillie chided Dexter for taking that position.
"It is highly irresponsible for the NDP to push ahead based on their own interests when they haven't done the homework on behalf of Nova Scotians," Baillie said in a statement.
"Nova Scotia ratepayers deserve a full cost-benefit review and the NDP need to get on with the job."
Dexter's comments come one day after a review by Manitoba Hydro International concluded that Muskrat Falls is the cheapest option for Newfoundland and Labrador's future energy needs -- but not without risk, citing fluctuating world market demands and pricing variables among other factors.
Under a term sheet reached in November 2010, Nova Scotia private utility Emera would fund a 180-kilometre subsea link between Cape Ray, N.L., and Lingan, N.S., at a cost of $1.2 billion.
A further $2.1 billion would be spent to build a transmission link from Labrador to Newfoundland, $600 million of which would be provided by Emera.
Nalcor Energy, Newfoundland and Labrador's Crown energy company, would spend $2.9 billion to build a power generating facility at Muskrat Falls capable of producing 824 megawatts of electricity.
Nova Scotia would get 170 megawatts of energy a year, about 10 per cent of the province's total energy needs, for 35 years.
