Environmental Assessment for Maritime Link Project Filed By Emera Newfoundland and Labrador

NSP Maritime Link Inc, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Emera Newfoundland and Labrador Holdings Inc. and an affiliate of Nova Scotia Power, has filed its Environmental Assessment Report (EA Report) for the Maritime Link Project with the Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency, Nova Scotia Environment, and Newfoundland & Labrador's Department of Environment and Conservation.

This is a major milestone in the federal and provincial environmental assessment processes for the proposed Maritime Link, an electrical transmission project which will link the provinces of Newfoundland & Labrador and Nova Scotia for the very first time. The Maritime Link will help meet the federal legislative requirement to reduce coal emissions through the use of increased renewable energy.

Environmental Assessment is a formal regulatory review process that considers environmental, social and economic effects of projects. The process is administered by regulation through the federal and provincial governments and ensures that projects proceed in an environmentally responsible manner. The EA report for the Maritime Link identifies mitigation measures that will be employed to ensure the project is constructed in an environmentally appropriate manner.

“For almost two years our project team has been meeting and consulting with Aboriginal groups, the general public and other stakeholders,” said Rick Janega, President of Emera Newfoundland & Labrador. “The Environmental Assessment Report includes a considerable amount of feedback from our consultation process, as well as a thorough analysis of potential effects on the environment. It relies on numerous scientific studies and on third-party expertise to support the findings it contains.”

The 737-page Maritime Link Project Environmental Assessment Report can be viewed at:

• Nova Scotia Environment EA website: http://www.gov.ns.ca/nse/ea/projects.asp
• Newfoundland & Labrador Department of Environment and Conservation EA website: http://www.env.gov.nl.ca/env/env_assessment/projects/Y2011/1618/index.html

About Emera Newfoundland & Labrador and NSP Maritime Link Inc.

NSP Maritime Link Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Emera Newfoundland and Labrador Holdings Inc. (Emera Newfoundland & Labrador), is responsible for the design, engineering, construction and commissioning of the 500-megawatt (MW) Maritime Link Transmission Project to transmit energy from the Island of Newfoundland to Nova Scotia. With offices in St. John's, NL, and Halifax, NS, Emera Newfoundland & Labrador is committed to ensuring that the Maritime Link provides clean, renewable source of energy for Nova Scotia and beyond. More information is available at www.emeranl.com.

About Emera Inc.

Emera Inc. is an energy and services company with $7.4 billion in assets and 2011 revenues of $2.1 billion. The company invests in electricity generation, transmission and distribution, as well as gas transmission and utility energy services. Emera’s strategy is focused on the transformation of the electricity industry to cleaner generation and the delivery of that clean energy to market. Emera has interests throughout northeastern North America, in three Caribbean countries. More than 80% of the company's earnings come from regulated investments. Emera common and preferred shares are listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange and trade respectively under the symbols EMA, EMA.PR.A, and EMA.PR.C. Additional information can be accessed at www.emera.com or at www.sedar.com.