Eight wind projects in several regions of Quebec will move forward, having been selected by Hydro-Québec to supply it with electricity, some as early as 2027.
The state-owned company announced on Friday the projects selected among the 16 bidders who responded to the call for tenders launched in March 2023. They will total 1,550 megawatts of power, the average cost of which is 7.8 cents per kilowatt hour in dollars of 2023, specifies Hydro-Québec in a press release.
The regions concerned are Centre-du-Québec, Chaudière-Appalaches, Montérégie, Côte-Nord and Bas-Saint-Laurent. The projects are all carried out in partnership with local communities, mainly regional county municipalities (MRCs) and Indigenous communities.
Some of these projects have faced citizen opposition, particularly in agricultural areas. This is the case of that proposed by Boralex in the MRC of Arthabaska and of Innergex in the MRC of Lotbinière.
The President and CEO of Innergex, Michel Letellier, recalled in an interview with The duty that several environmental studies, consultations with citizens and potentially hearings from the Office of Public Hearings on the Environment (BAPE) remain to be done for their two selected projects. He says he wants to minimize the loss of agricultural land.
Furthermore, agreements have already been concluded with landowners agreeing to accommodate one or more of the twenty wind turbines planned for the MRC Lotbinière Wind Project. Construction work could begin in 2027, for a first delivery of electricity at the end of 2028. The company, the MRC, the Abenakis of Odakak Council and the Abenakis of Wôlinak Council will share any profits from the the sale of electricity to Hydro-Québec.
“The wind sector remains the most advantageous sector from an economic point of view, despite the impacts of inflation and the shortage of labor in construction which affect all sectors”, reacted the Association Quebec of renewable energy production (AQPER) by press release.
“With its approximately 5,000 jobs, its annual tax and parafiscal benefits of nearly $100 million and payments of $118.4 million to various communities, the wind industry already contributes greatly to the economic vitality of Quebec and its regions. », also underlined the AQPER.
More details will follow.