Energy needs | Hydroelectricity: “It’s the best option,” says Legault

(Havre-Saint-Pierre) The Romaine megacomplex is “a model to follow for possible projects” of hydroelectric dams which remain in the eyes of François Legault “the best option” to meet the enormous energy needs that Quebec expects.

The Prime Minister cut the ribbon to inaugurate the Romaine complex on the North Shore on Thursday. At a time when he dreams of seeing dam projects push forward in Quebec, Mr. Legault praised the merits of hydroelectricity which remains “the best choice” for energy production, while wind power, for example, is “intermittent” and will be “insufficient” for the future.

“I continue to think that hydroelectricity is the best option,” said the Prime Minister during a press scrum after the ceremony which took place at the Romaine-1 power station, located a few kilometers to the north of Havre-Saint-Pierre. Mr. Legault also invited the former Liberal Prime Minister, Jean Charest, who kicked off the mega-project in May 2009.

“I think it is important for me to invite Jean Charest, who courageously launched the Romaine project in 2009 and who was criticized a lot,” said Mr. Legault.

Hydro-Québec currently finds itself at a crossroads as energy needs will explode in the coming years. To achieve carbon neutrality by 2050, Quebec will need more than 100 additional terawatt hours (TWh) of energy – which is equivalent to 50% of Hydro-Québec’s current production. François Legault himself mentioned a volume of up to 150 TWh.

Thursday, while he was in the company of the new big boss of Hydro-Québec, Michael Sabia, the Prime Minister exercised caution. Mr. Legault asked for a little patience, refusing to venture into an estimate of the volume of future needs. At the beginning of November, Mr. Sabia will present an “update” of the strategic plan presented by his predecessor, Sophie Brochu.

The state company’s 2022-2026 Strategic Plan estimated needs at 100 TWh. However, it is certain that these needs will be revised upwards.

For comparison, the Romaine complex, which has an average annual production of 8 TWh, would have to be built 19 times to meet the anticipated demand of 100 TWh.

“ [Cette mise à jour]it’s just the beginning of a conversation, of a dialogue [entre] us and the government,” expressed Mr. Sabia on Thursday. This is the first time that he and Mr. Legault have participated in a public activity since his appointment last August. The new president and CEO of Hydro-Québec explained that we had to remain “open” to find new sources of energy. Quebec’s future decisions will also depend on the outcome of its negotiations with Newfoundland and Labrador for the renewal of the Churchill Falls contract.

Nuclear and social acceptability

This also applies to nuclear power. “I think you have to keep an open mind. We are examining a range of technology options, including hydroelectricity and scaling up production at our existing facilities. The option of wind turbines is extremely important, as is solar. So, it is too early to reach a final decision,” explained Mr. Sabia.

The Prime Minister felt the need to qualify the CEO’s comments. “It is Hydro-Québec’s responsibility to look at all the scenarios. On the other hand, there is currently no social acceptability in Quebec for nuclear power,” said Mr. Legault. At the same time, he affirmed that social acceptability will also be necessary for the construction of a possible new dam.

The importance of collaborating with the First Nations was also mentioned several times by Mr. Legault and his ministers who made the trip to Minganie, Pierre Fitzgibbon (Economy and Energy), Ian Lafrenière (Relations with the First Nations and the Inuit) and Kateri Champagne Jourdain, the minister responsible for the North Shore, herself a member of the Innu community.

No project on the Magpie

Innu chief Jean-Charles Piétacho took care to remind Mr. Legault that the First Nations are fiercely opposed to a project on the Magpie River. The Prime Minister assured that there is “no analysis, no project” for this location.

For the moment, Hydro-Québec is only studying a new structure on the Petit Mécatina river, also on the North Shore. Here again, social acceptability is far from being achieved.

Chief Piétacho invited the Legault government to “rethink” the model of agreements with First Nations by no longer limiting itself to promises of royalties and jobs. The head of Hydro-Québec said he wanted to give more space to First Nations in future projects by offering them the opportunity to own the facilities, for example.

Three agreements were concluded with the First Nations in the context of the negotiations for the Romaine construction site. Mr. Charest remembers the tensions at the time.

“These agreements must be organic, that is to say, they must have sufficient flexibility to evolve with circumstances, with changing events. That’s the magic or the key to closing deals. If the agreements are frozen in time, the desire to conclude is much more difficult,” said Mr. Charest, who says he believes that the construction of new dams is possible in Quebec.

Transition: “This is the great challenge of our era”

The inauguration of the Romaine complex – the largest hydroelectric facility in service since James Bay – is of particular importance for the Legault government, which has placed the energy transition at the heart of its second mandate. François Legault sees the creation of the hydroelectric megacomplex as inspiration for his aims.

“For the next months, the next years. We will have important questions to ask ourselves in Quebec,” indicated Mr. Legault. “We will have to have a social debate,” he added, confirming that a parliamentary commission will follow the submission of Michael Sabia’s “update”.

“Quebec’s next big challenge will be the energy and economic transition,” underlined the CEO of Hydro-Québec. “This is the great challenge of our era and we have everything we need to succeed,” added Mr. Sabia during his short speech. Mr. Fitzgibbon also indicated that “there is nothing better” than hydroelectricity to “balance” the contribution of other sources such as wind, biomass and solar.

In recent weeks, Mr. Legault has taken advantage of several forums to reiterate his desire to launch new major works. During an HEC Montreal event on September 15, the Prime Minister even invited Quebecers to “prepare” themselves to see dam projects multiply.

Minister Pierre Fitzgibbon must also present this fall an important part of the government’s strategy with the tabling of his expected bill on Hydro-Québec and the Régie de l’énergie. The legislative text aims to review the framework for the development of clean energy. It will notably discuss the acceleration of wind projects and the review of Hydro-Québec rates for businesses.

The end of a long project

François Legault thus underlined the end of the impressive 7.4 billion project, which took place over more than 14 years. Located north of Havre-Saint-Pierre – a municipality located some 215 kilometers east of Sept-Îles – the Romaine complex is a project that will have given Hydro-Québec a hard time.

The very last of the complex’s four power plants, Romaine-4, entered production in September 2022 two years late, in particular due to the instability of the rock which forced the interruption of work on more than one occasion. of construction.

The site was also paralyzed in 2010 by workers from the North Shore dissatisfied with regional hiring. Innu from Uashat mak Mani-utenam, in Sept-Îles, also blocked Route 138 in March 2012 to protest against work on their ancestral lands.

The initial bill for the project was also revised upwards, from 6.5 to 7.4 billion. Added to this are costs of 1.3 billion for the construction of the transmission line for the connection.

Four men died during the work, the worst death toll for a Hydro-Québec project in the last 20 years. A moment of contemplation in memory of the four victims also took place during the inauguration ceremony.