As Newfoundland and Labrador moves to expand its green energy economy, companies linked to hydroelectric and hydrogen projects are some of the province’s major political donors, while also receiving substantial government support.

In 2024, the provincial government announced $1.36 million in funding for six green energy projects across the province. Among the recipients were two of the largest contributors to the provincial Liberal Party in 2024.

Pennecon Hydraulic Systems Limited donated $40,300 in 2024. The company secured provincial funding to develop electric and hybrid propulsion systems for aquaculture barges, a project aimed at replacing diesel-powered equipment with cleaner alternatives. This initiative is expected to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from aquaculture operations throughout Atlantic Canada.

North Atlantic Logistics (NARL) also made six donations last year, totalling just under $35,900. NARL supplies approximately 60 per cent of the province’s gasoline, diesel and jet fuel. The company is pursuing supplemental power from the provincial electricity grid to support its operations, citing its existing infrastructure as a competitive advantage in a changing market.

Other significant donors have likewise received government support for energy projects in 2024.

In late 2023, the provincial government committed more than $15 million to the Port of Argentia’s multi-tenant docking infrastructure project, a key component of the province’s offshore and renewable energy strategy. The Port of Argentia donated to the Liberals six times the following year, equal to $8,653. In January 2024, the Argentia Marine Terminal expansion, planned to double quayside capacity at the port, was cleared in terms of environmental assessment, allowing construction to proceed.

EverWind Fuels, which hopes to develop a large wind-to-hydrogen project on the Burin Peninsula, donated $26,250 to the party in 2024. Selected in August 2023 as one of four proponents awarded Crown land for hydrogen export facilities, the company is also seeking water access from Nova Scotia’s Landrie Lake to support hydrogen production powered by wind and solar energy, with plans to export the fuel to European markets.

Seven donations totalling $30,050.00 were made by Corner Brook Pulp and Paper Limited (CBPP) last year. In March, the government of Newfoundland and Labrador signed an agreement to purchase part of CBPP’s green energy assets, worth an estimated $22 million over six months. The goal of the agreement was to provide economic support in exchange for aid in identifying new potential for the province’s forestry sector.

In Newfoundland, the overlap between political donations and government funding has drawn attention in previous years. In 2022, then-premier Andrew Furey faced criticism after the Marco Group — a construction firm with longstanding ties to the Liberal Party — was awarded a multimillion-dollar provincial contract. The company remained one of the Liberal Party's largest donors in 2024.

Correction:

An earlier version of this story included incorrect data. Donation values for Pennecon, NARL, Port of Argentia, Everwind Fuels and Corner Brook Pulp and Paper Limited have been updated to reflect actual donation amounts in the calendar year 2024.

More Briefs

Montreal police spend $20,000 on Axon bots over 5 months

David Eby taps lobbyist to lead B.C. election campaign

Appeals come up short for Canadians who got bogus tax receipts in ‘sham’ charity scheme

Indigenous tech company looks to Ontario to expand training opportunities