Green, renewable, capable of generating appreciable quantities of electricity at increasingly low costs, wind production is gaining importance in the global energy mix. That Quebec decides to enter the dance through the front door, as prime contractor, makes sense. Not only does this formula resemble it, but it allows it to break with the disorderly dispersion of a private development which has until now sowed more storms than bright tomorrows.
Quebec knows that it wants to improve its hydroelectric capital in anticipation of bad weather days. What he doesn’t know yet is how exactly. While we bicker over the battery sector, grope around for avenues to unlock the potential of green hydrogen, and fearfully question the possible return of nuclear power, wind power arrives on the drawing board with a technical lightness and an aura of “cleanliness” which are no small assets.
Wind energy has drawbacks: it is a landscape killer, it is unpredictable and its blades interfere with migration corridors. It can be associated with noise and psychological nuisances varying in intensity depending on the individual, recalled the National Institute of Public Health of Quebec in April. But perfect technology, the one that leaves no trace, does not exist. In this regard, what we need is to consume less and better, but that is another debate (which will also have to be done).
The president and CEO of Hydro-Québec, Michael Sabia, knows that he is moving forward in complicated territory with wind power, but he has assets. First, he knows that opting for global planning, with areas linked to the electricity transmission network, will allow him to minimize his costs. He also knows that the mad race for wind power on the planet is pushing prices upwards, but that by offering predictability and large volumes, he will be able to hope for economies of scale of more than 20%.
He also knows that the private sector has burned most of its sympathy cartridges. Wind power must regain its reputation among citizens, municipalities and First Nations. That’s good, Hydro wants to make them its full partners: “It’s the only way to make energy available in a socially acceptable way, faster and at the best possible cost,” argues Mr. Sabia.
Several elements could, however, cause the state-owned company to deviate from its objective of developing more than 10,000 MW of new wind capacity by 2035. Starting with its propensity towards centralization, which could become a brake on innovation and even to action if it is not restrained. We have also started to develop Quebec intelligence and expertise, there is no need to reinvent the wheel from scratch: it is already turning. What we need to do is push her harder, further.
The big unknown in the equation will be that of working together. We do not want to relive a failure like that of Maine or a nightmare like that of the Hertel-des-Cantons line. With a judgment declaring the decrees justifying the construction of this line “illegal, inapplicable and inoperative”, in 1999, the Coalition of Citizens of Val-Saint-François was unable to do anything against the special law of the government of Lucien Bouchard . The line will ultimately have swallowed up hectares of ancient forests and agricultural land, in addition to a full contingent of citizen illusions.
Social confrontation and the slightest waste of our collective wealth will not pass in 2024. Hydro is committed to concentrating its efforts in so-called “structuring” areas, but these will have to be defined in the finest detail. We will have to protect our pantry (our arable land already only occupies 2% of the territory), but also our lungs (our ancient forests) and our kidneys (our humid and watery environments), like our iconic landscapes. .
Fortunately, Quebec enjoys a luxury of territory which facilitates optimal developments. When it’s done well, the municipalities ask for more, like in Saint-Michel, where everyone ended up finding something for themselves. There will still be resistance and we will have to take the time to understand it. We see good samples in Sainte-Croix or Saint-Pie, our reporter Roxane Léouzon recently reported. These oppositions concern private projects. The sequel can therefore — and must — be written differently.
For Hydro, its CEO, and its partners, it will be a matter of choosing their battles carefully and learning to better navigate the choppy waters of social dialogue through actions and reviews that we want to be transparent and transparent. exemplary. Michael Sabia missed a great opportunity to do this by outright rejecting the idea of a generic BAPE for the wind sector. It is not because it does not like the solution defended by the Vent d’élus group that the debate is closed. Wind of elected officials poses excellent questions, they deserve to be debated.