Wind Power News: Quebec
These news and opinion items are gathered by National Wind Watch to help keep readers informed about developments related to industrial wind energy. They are the products of the organizations or individuals noted and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of National Wind Watch.
More Quebec towns get party status in Dairy Air hearings
HOLLAND – The officer overseeing the review of the Dairy Air Wind Project gave party status to an international water company and several Quebec towns to participate in the case. But Thomas Knauer, handling the hearings over the proposed 499-foot-tall wind turbine on Dairy Air Farm for the Vermont Public Utilities Commission, sent the Derby Select Board and several other interested parties back to the drawing board to explain why they should be involved. And Knauer said, in an order issued . . .
Quebec ruling reaffirms research data confidentiality
The Superior Court of Quebec has ruled in favour of researcher Marie-Ève Maillé, who will not be required to disclose the confidential research data she collected in 2010. In the ruling handed down on May 31, 2017, Justice Marc St-Pierre retracted his previous decision dated February 13, 2016, which compelled the Université du Québec à Montréal researcher to share her raw data with Éoliennes de l’Érable, a company behind a wind power project in Quebec. Maillé did not hide her . . .
Dairy Air Wind Project draws Quebec town opposition
HOLLAND – A Quebec town has joined the opposition to the proposed Dairy Air Wind turbine. Coaticook, north of Norton and Holland, is in the viewshed of the planned 500-foot-tall turbine on a Dairy Air Farm field and wants to send representatives to be heard at hearings on the project before the Vermont Public Service Board. Coaticook has filed a request for intervention based on what the town says would be the impact on the area’s economy. “This project might affect . . .
Anti-windmill protests heat up in St-Cyprien-de-Napierville
Protests against a future wind farm slated for prime agricultural land in southern Quebec have ramped up in St-Cyprien-de-Napierville. On Saturday, some farmers, local officials and residents marched against the 24-megawatt windmill project slated for St-Cyprien-de-Napierville, in the regional county municipality (MRC) of Jardins de Napierville. Many of the protesters – including a group of local mayors opposed to the project – drove farming machinery and other vehicles from St-Cyprien-de-Napierville to Lacolle, near the Quebec-New York border crossing. The opposition to the . . .
Les éoliennes devant les tribunaux
Au Québec, un deuxième groupe de citoyens veut intenter un recours collectif contre des promoteurs éoliens. Ils se plaignent du bruit et de la poussière, et craignent que leurs maisons ne perdent de la valeur. Ces résidents de Saint-Jean-de-Brébeuf, dans Chaudière-Appalaches, tentent d’obtenir des tribunaux la permission d’exercer un recours collectif contre le promoteur éolien Invenergy et même contre Hydro-Québec, qui a retenu ce projet en milieu habité. Pierre Labranche participe au recours collectif. Les éoliennes du parc Des Moulins . . .
Hydro-Québec hikes home electricity rates by 2.9%
Quebecers will soon be shelling out more for electricity, as Hydro-Québec rates are set to increase 2.9 per cent on April 1. The increase, approved by Quebec’s Energy Board, is less than the 3.9 per cent hike that Hydro-Québec had requested. The rate increase comes on the heels of Hydro-Québec’s record-breaking profits posted in 2014. Quebec’s Energy Board estimates the 2015 hike will cost the average household an additional $44 a year. Quebec households already faced a 4.3 per cent . . .
New Hydro-Québec CEO will have to juggle political dictates, competing interests
Following the surprise resignation of Hydro-Québec’s chief executive Thierry Vandal, new questions are being asked about the giant provincially owned utility with revenues of more than $13 billion. Much of the media attention so far has centred on the possible role of smart meters in the recent departures not only of Vandal but of two other high-ranking executives, Marie-José Nadeau and Georges Ablad. Sure, the installation of smart meters has been controversial – thanks in large part to a relentless . . .
Senvion probes blade detachment
Turbine manufacturer Senvion is investigating after a blade detached and fell to the ground at EDF EN Canada’s 80MW Saint Robert Bellarmin wind farm in Quebec. The blade failure was detected on 22 November, EDF spokesperson Sandi Briner told reNews. The wind farm consists of 40 MM92 2MW turbines that include substantial Quebec content. The 45-metre blades were manufactured by LM Wind Power at its Gaspé factory, towers were produced at the Marmen Matane plant and SEG Woodward contributed the . . .
Quebec green lights 150MW wind
The government of Quebec has issued a decree to allow construction of the 150MW Mesgi’g Ugju’s’n wind farm in the Gaspé Peninsula. Innergex, which will manage the construction and operation of the wind farm, is a 50-50 partner in its project company with the Mi’gmaq communities of Gesgapegiag, Gespeg and Listuguj. “Innergex and its partner, the Mi’gmaq communities of Quebec, have reached an important milestone in the development of this wind project and we look forward to beginning pre-construction activities . . .
Government concerned over proposed Hydro hike
The present provincial government is concerned about the new tariff increase of 3.9% that Hydro-Québec wants to once again impose on the population. Rates just went up by 4.3% last spring and already Hydro-Québec wants to increase the rates by almost as much. The Government is concerned the rates will not only be difficult for the average family, and even worse for those less fortunate, but will also affect the competitive costs for attracting businesses to the province. Quebec has . . .
