An assistant professor of Island and Environmental Studies at the University of PEI is concerned that Ottawa has denied federal environmental assessment designation for World Energy GH2’s proposed wind and hydrogen development on the province’s southwest coast.

Nick Mercer has been providing the local environmental transparency committee on the Port au Port Peninsula with some support in a volunteer capacity.

He told VOCM Open Line with Paddy Daly he has serious concerns about the implications of the project, not the least of which is a lack of transparency, and government messaging which suggests the project is moving ahead.

“This project,” says Mercer, “was announced without the knowledge of community members, which is, you know, quite disappointing.”

Mercer calls the project a ‘fait accompli’ and he’s highly skeptical of the entire process.

“Why do we even subject these mega projects to any level of environmental approval, if the regulator that’s responsible for approving them, is the biggest cheerleaders for them?” Mercer asks.

A petition campaign has been launched by opponents to the proposed project.