Recent comments from New Brunswick that it will not allow itself to be used as an energy corridor with nothing in return should not affect P.E.I.'s plans, says the Island's energy minister.

'I can see where [Graham]'s coming from. He's been working extremely hard on it'— P.E.I. Energy Minister Richard Brown

P.E.I. has agreements in place with New Brunswick that allow it to export its wind power through the province, said Energy Minister Richard Brown.

Brown did say, however, that he understands why New Brunswick Premier Shawn Graham a week ago warned that a federal program to support electricity exports to the U.S. won't mean that power from other his neighbours could pass freely through his province.

"We're not going to give it up for another jurisdiction to simply run wires through our province," Graham said during a March 31 speech in Fredericton.

Graham was responding to an announcement of $4 million in federal funding for the Atlantic Energy Gateway Initiative, a new fund aimed at fostering more renewable energy, and for shipping surplus power to the lucrative U.S. market.

Last month, Peter MacKay, minister responsible for the Atlantic Gateway, pointed to Newfoundland's Lower Churchill hydro project as an example of such a project, but New Brunswick worries energy produced there could compete directly with its own efforts to export power to the U.S.

Graham bristled that his province has been working toward becoming an energy hub and said he won't allow his neighbouring provinces to play catch-up at New Brunswick's expense.

Brown said Graham has a right to be concerned.

"The federal government comes down with $4 million that possibly could build a kilometre of high power line, and I can see where he's coming from. He's been working extremely hard on it, as with Prince Edward Island," said Brown.

Newfoundland and Labrador Premier Danny Williams said New Brunswick shouldn't worry about his province's plans. Power from the Lower Churchill will go to New York, and New Brunswick has its eye on markets in Maine.