The minister of energy says some critics of the hydro deal have it all wrong.

The House of Assembly will debate a motion to accept the agreement the week of September 14.

One component gives Newfoundland and Labrador access to the Quebec grid to export up to 985 MW of electricity to markets abroad, including the eastern U.S. seaboard. Minister Lloyd Parrott says the terms of the deal make it financially feasible to transport the energy via the Quebec grid as it would not make financial sense to construct our own transmission system.

“We don’t have transmission lines in Quebec, and I don’t think the people of Newfoundland and Labrador would want us to spend $25-billion in order to export 985 MW of power,” says Parrott.

He says waiting for the 1969 agreement to expire in 15 years would not be the best option as the province stands to gain billions in the interim.