Hydro-Quebec has entered into a partnership with L'Alliance de l'énergie de l'Est to develop a wind power project in the Lower St. Lawrence region of southern Quebec, potentially delivering 1 GW of electricity generation capacity.
The partnership, announced on Wednesday, marks a significant step in the utility's wind energy strategy, with an estimated total investment of CAD 3 billion (USD 2.18 billion/EUR 2 billion).
L'Alliance de l'énergie de l'Est, a collective of 209 communities and the Wolastoqiyik Wahsipekuk First Nation, is focused on increasing local involvement in wind farm projects in Eastern Quebec. The proposed wind farm would be located in a 700-sq-km zone in the Wocawson area of south-west Bas-Saint-Laurent.
“Wocawson, which means ‘wind' in Wolastoqey, symbolizes for us a wind of change, particularly in relations between the First Nations and Hydro-Quebec,” said Jacques Tremblay, Grand Chief of the Wolastoqiyik Wahsipekuk First Nation.
This project aligns with Hydro-Quebec's broader wind energy development strategy, which aims to install 10 GW of wind capacity by 2035. Involvement from First Nations and local municipalities is central to the strategy, ensuring equitable shareholdings between the community partners and Hydro-Quebec. The partnership will now focus on ensuring the social integration of the project and coordinating with the evolving electricity transmission network.
Hydro-Quebec and L'Alliance de l'énergie de l'Est may invite external developers through a competitive bidding process to provide the necessary technical expertise for the wind farm's development.
