The Apuiat Wind Farm, a 200-megawatt renewable energy project jointly developed by Innu communities and Boralex Inc., has entered commercial operation on the traditional territory of the Uashat mak Mani-utenam First Nation, the partners said this week.
The project, composed of 34 Vestas V162 turbines rated at 6 MW each, is the first wind installation built in Quebec’s Côte-Nord region and the first large-scale wind farm commissioned in the province since 2018, according to Boralex.
Electricity from Apuiat will be supplied to Hydro-Québec under a 30-year power purchase agreement. The facility is expected to generate enough electricity to power about 150,000 people, with the Innu communities set to receive half of the project’s net earnings over its lifetime.
Annual royalties of about €670,000 will be distributed equally between the Uashat mak Mani-utenam First Nation and the nearby municipality of Port-Cartier. More than €13 million in contracts were awarded to Indigenous-owned businesses during construction, which employed over 300 workers. Eleven permanent positions have been created for local residents.
A wind maintenance training program was developed in partnership with the Mitshapeu Training Centre, Groupe Collegia and turbine manufacturer Vestas to support workforce development in the region.
Martin Dufour, Innu Chief of Energy Matters, said the project “symbolizes collective effort, movement and common direction,” adding, “This is our first national energy project, but certainly not the last.”
Boralex President and CEO Patrick Decostre described Apuiat as “a model of partnership and business that truly reflects our core values,” calling it “a milestone in Quebec’s energy transition.”
An official inauguration ceremony is scheduled for spring 2026 to mark the project’s completion and recognize its contribution to the province’s renewable energy goals.
