François Legault announces major wind power development project in eastern Quebec

Quebec Premier François Legault says he wants to develop wind power in eastern Quebec, specifically in Montmagny, L’Islet, Kamouraska, Rivière-du-Loup and Témiscouata.

Legault was in Cacouna on Tuesday to announce the signing of a partnership between the Alliance de l’énergie de l’Est and Hydro-Québec.

The agreement provides for the production of up to 1,500 megawatts (MW) of electricity over the next few years, representing investments of up to $4.5 billion, according to a press release.

The group say it is committed to first assessing the social acceptability of wind power development in the targeted territory.

Consultations are set to be held with local partners to identify the realities of the environment in order to ensure the harmonious integration of any potential projects.

Tuesday’s announcement is part of the government and Hydro-Québec’s strategy to develop more than 10,000 MW of new wind power capacity in collaboration with First Nations groups and municipalities.

“This agreement (…) is directly in line with the economic vision I presented last week, which is to capitalize on our strengths and create wealth here, in our regions,” said Legault.

The government and Hydro-Québec say they want to double green electricity production in the province by 2050 to meet the needs and demands from businesses seeking to decarbonize.

“‘Our goal is clear: to generate sustainable benefits, (…) diversify our energy sources and create a wind energy model inspired by best practices,” said Hydro-Québec CEO Claudine Bouchard.

–This report by La Presse Canadienne was translated by CityNews