On May 10, 2013, the Premier of Québec, Pauline Marois, together with the Minister of Natural Resources, Martine Ouellet, the Minister for Regions and Minister responsible for the Gaspésie–Îles-de-la-Madeleine region, Gaétan Lelièvre, and the Minister for Tourism and Minister responsible for the Bas-Saint-Laurent region, Pascal Bérubé, announced Québec's intention to secure an additional block of 800 MW of wind power capacity.

This new wind power capacity will be allocated as follows:

  • A 150 MW block will be reserved for a project currently being developed by the Mi'gmawei Mawiomi, in the Gaspésie region.
  • A 150 MW block will be reserved for projects throughout Québec, which will be awarded through a call for tenders process.
  • A 200 MW block will be reserved for Hydro-Québec Production.
  • A 300 MW block will be reserved for projects in the Gaspésie or Bas-Saint-Laurent regions, which will also be awarded through a call for tenders process.

The calls for tenders will target projects developed by local communities and cooperatives in partnership with private developers.

This significant additional block of wind power should allow Québec to meet its goal of approximately 4,000 MW of wind power capacity in compliance with its 2006-2015 Energy Strategy. This additional capacity will replace wind power projects awarded under former calls for tenders, which failed to be implemented. In addition, the Québec Government will encourage greater First Nations involvement in this new block of wind power capacity.

It is expected that the Québec Government will prepare a regulatory framework for the new capacity procurement process, including its terms and conditions, which will form the basis for Hydro-Québec Distribution's calls for tenders. The terms and conditions of Hydro-Québec Distribution's calls for tenders will be submitted for approval to the Régie de l'énergie, Québec's energy regulatory agency, which is charged with overseeing the procurement by Hydro-Québec Distribution of electricity from third party suppliers.

Do not hesitate to contact our energy experts to assist you and your business in connection with this important development in the wind energy industry, including to discuss and identify the opportunities which may arise in connection with the proposed wind power procurement.

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