The province’s New Democrats say the provincial environment department’s approval of the hydrogen and wind project on the Port au Port Peninsula lacks guarantees for local benefits and protections.

Jordan Brown says to-date, government’s focus has been on getting the industry up and running, with “no guarantees that Newfoundlanders and Labradorians will receive the maximum benefits from the industry.”

The NDP has consulted with a number of groups and is offering some suggestions to government based on what they’ve heard.

They include prohibiting development in the areas designated as Limestone Barrens, ensuring that the proponent’s reports on flooding are evaluated by qualified experts, and that community benefits agreements to offset the social costs will be transparently negotiated.

World Energy GH2 got the environmental green light from the province earlier this week. The company’s project includes more than 300 massive wind turbines and a hydrogen plant near Stephenville.