Lack of energy for local businesses | Risk of exodus of private investments to the United States

(Quebec) Unable to obtain energy blocks to electrify their factories, large Quebec companies have instead chosen to invest in the United States. The organization that represents them is asking Quebec to give priority to local companies in the future.


“It’s unfortunate that these investments are being made in the United States rather than in Quebec and that this really reduces their carbon footprint in Quebec,” lamented Véronique Proulx, President and CEO of Manufacturiers et Exportateurs du Québec (MEQ), during her testimony to the parliamentary committee on the Legault government’s energy bill.

PHOTO DAVID BOILY, LA PRESSE ARCHIVES

Veronique Proulx

We actually have some members who have told us clearly, given that we do not have access to energy blocks, and that there is no predictability [que] Investments will be made on the American side.

Véronique Proulx, CEO of Manufacturers and Exporters of Quebec (MEQ)

Why is Quebec finding itself in a situation where it is missing out on investments from private companies that want to reduce their carbon footprint by giving up fuels like natural gas or fuel oil and choosing electricity?

Mme Proulx and large companies do not know this, since they do not know the analysis grids of the Ministry of the Economy, which decides whether a company can obtain new electricity supplies since the adoption of a law in 2023.

They were told no, but don’t know why.

Grid not found

“Our members have not seen the grid that allows the government to evaluate which project is selected or not. When we talk about transparency, it is about making it available, being able to understand how we qualify projects and how we make project choices,” she explained.

She therefore hopes that everyone can have access to an analysis grid based on objective criteria, which makes it possible to decide who has access to Quebec electricity.

Since Tuesday, a major debate has been taking place in the National Assembly. The question that is being asked: who will be entitled to the green energy produced by Hydro-Québec, and at what price?


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