Rethinking Energy Security in Newfoundland and Labrador

Kassandra Drodge

We often talk about disconnecting. Disconnecting from the internet, from work, from stressful situations. But we hardly talk about disconnecting from main power sources to find alternative solutions.

The recent events at the Bay d’Espoir Hydro plant have certainly highlighted the instability around depending on one power source during extreme weather, and it’s only the first month of 2026. As the province moves through a deep freeze, with temperatures spanning from -25 C to -44 C, general labourers, technicians, and dive crews are working hard to ensure communities don’t lose power.

What if we could imagine what power generation looks like? Or, what if we could choose when to connect to the main public grid? Better yet, what if houses, buildings, and communities could store energy and keep it for when power grids fail?

These questions are turning into aspirations across communities in Newfoundland and Labrador, where the January polar vortex, unstable grid connections, and rising utility prices are prompting residents to turn to solar energy and other ways to generate electricity from renewable energy.

This continues as individuals and communities seek out ways to learn about solar panel installation and maintenance to be better prepared for the next black out, with many sharing the looming memory of DarkNL in 2014.

Solar panel installation and maintenance is not new to the province. But sustaining and retaining local skills for planning, building, and developing renewable energy systems like PV systems (solar/photovoltaic systems) and supporting electricity distribution systems like microgrids in rural and coastal communities has been challenging, leading to further discussions about how communities can create scalable models to meet home energy demands.

Rural community centers and Indigenous communities are already adopting solar panels to replace diesel in Cartwright/Labrador and the island’s west coast, more specifically in shared community green spaces and buildings, proving that solar is feasible as an energy substitute. Yet, we see parents and grandparents continue waving goodbye to the new generation of workers, who are still leaving en masse for out-of-province jobs. At the same time, community infrastructure, especially in rural areas, continues to crumble and decay.

How do we face these issues, address communities’ needs, and meet the aspirations of residents across the province? For one, our provincial government could dedicate funds to help communities build on renewable job skills by partnering with organizations that offer classroom and in person training, and invest in local jobs for infrastructure development and building retrofits, like telecommunication lines for better internet and phone connectivity across the province. with a priority to increase efficient energy access and reduce utility costs for residents.

Pilots developed through a combination of community-based organizations and initiatives focused on enhancing energy literacy, continue to be developed across the province through community empowerment models and conversations with town councils, leaders, and residents. The pilots include risk mapping, climate adaptation and mitigation, with a focus on strengthening networks to support residents during disastrous weather, nature based solutions to prevent flooding such as rain gardens, and energy alternatives like solar panels and community-owned installation sites. The goal is simple: put people before profits by developing the training, skills, and transferable knowledge focused on sharing technical and operational troubleshooting approaches that is necessary for communities to become energy secure.