In 2013, Shoal Point Energy proposed a fracking plan for three sites along Newfoundland’s west coast, including on the Port au Port Peninsula. The company planned to inject water, sand, and chemicals into the ground to explore for oil. However, the proposal faced significant opposition from the public, including about 300 people who crowded into a hall in Port au Port East to hear details about the plan and voice their concerns.
Environmental concerns were a major issue, as residents worried that fracking would damage the local environment and harm tourism. Calvin White, an elder from the Mi’kmaq community of Flat Bay, criticized the government for not starting community consultations earlier, particularly after a fracking operation was allowed in his community in 2004. Natural Resources Minister Tom Marshall faced questions from the public but ultimately said he would gather evidence before making a decision.
Shoal Point Energy had yet to formally submit a proposal to the government, and an environmental assessment was required before any fracking could take place. In the end, the project was stopped, and the company did not move forward with the proposal.
In a more recent incident, blockades on the Port au Port Peninsula have hindered World Energy GH2’s green hydrogen initiative, which aims to build massive wind farms and produce green hydrogen in the Stephenville-Port au Port area beginning in 2025. The company filed an application seeking an injunction against protesters who were obstructing access to the company’s wind testing sites, citing concerns that the blockades were posing a serious threat to the viability of the project. Despite an interim order being granted, protesters are vowing to continue their fight.
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