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Wind Power News: Quebec
These news and opinion items are gathered by National Wind Watch in its noncommercial educational effort to help keep readers informed about developments related to industrial wind energy. They do not necessarily reflect the opinions of National Wind Watch. They are the products of and owned by the organizations or individuals noted and are shared here according to “fair use” and “fair dealing” provisions of copyright law.
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 . . . Complete story »
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 . . . Complete story »
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 electrical . . . Complete story »
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 . . . Complete story »
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 . . . Complete story »
Parc éolien de l’Érable: 300 résidents souhaitent être dédommagés
(VICTORIAVILLE) Me David Bourgouin a présenté, lundi, au palais de justice de Victoriaville, les principaux arguments visant à permettre un recours collectif des résidents de la MRC de l’Érable contre Enerfin, le promoteur du parc éolien de l’Érable. On estime à plus de 300 le nombre de personnes dérangées par la pollution sonore et visuelle engendrée par l’installation et la mise en service des 50 éoliennes. La requête déposée en août 2013 et entendue cette semaine par le juge de . . . Complete story »
Quebec government postpones wind power RFP; no new date scheduled
The Quebec government has postponed a request for proposals (RFP) calling for 450 MW of installed wind capacity for eastern Quebec and other parts of the province. A replacement date has not been announced. The RFP, originally scheduled for Sept. 3, called for 300 MW of wind power to be developed in the Bas-St-Laurent and Gaspesie-Iles-de-la-Madeleine regions, as well as 150 MW of installed capacity for wind projects across Quebec. In its December 2013 announcement, Hydro-Quebec Distribution stipulated that prospective bids must include . . . Complete story »
Hydro-Québec ne boude pas des revenus
Hydro-Québec réagit à un article intitulé «Les éoliennes: une source de profits boudée?» paru dans Le Journal de Québec et Le Journal de Montréal le 23 août 2014, dans lequel on avance qu’Hydro-Québec pourrait obtenir 14,4 cents le kilowattheure, soit 345 M$ par année, en exportant aux États-Unis 6,9 térawattheures (milliards de kilowattheures) d’énergie éolienne qui est produite au Québec et qu’elle achète. La réalité est tout autre. Les chiffres avancés dans les articles du Journal de Québec et du . . . Complete story »
Éoliennes: le rêve non rentable
Le 5 août dernier, Hydro-Québec Distribution déposait à la Régie de l’énergie une demande visant une hausse tarifaire de 3,9 % à compter du 1er avril 2015. La Régie devra statuer sur cette demande d’ici le printemps prochain, mais il est d’ores et déjà connu que 2,1% de cette demande est la conséquence du coût des nouveaux approvisionnements, principalement éoliens, et ce, alors même que l’on vient de subir en avril 2014 une hausse de 4,3 % de notre compte d’électricité. Depuis . . . Complete story »
Énergie éolienne: des vents contraires
(Québec) Des vents contraires soufflent sur l’industrie éolienne après qu’Hydro-Québec eut évoqué ses coûts de production élevés pour justifier une augmentation de tarifs de 3,9 %. Ces vents seront-ils assez forts pour ébranler la jeune industrie? À défaut d’avoir la réponse, on ne peut pas reprocher au gouvernement de ne pas se poser la question. Les premiers parcs d’éoliennes sont apparus au Québec au milieu des années 2000. Dans sa politique énergétique en 2006, le gouvernement Charest annonçait son intention de . . . Complete story »
