The Quebec government has published the final regulation regarding a call for 450 MW of wind energy. The 450 MW block is part of Quebec's previously announced plan to acquire an additional 800 MW of wind.
The TechnoCentre eolien has welcomed the new clarifications and highlighted some of the key rules. For example, Hydro-Quebec will have to introduce a call for tenders for the production of 450 MW of wind power by Dec. 31; 300 MW of this is reserved for the Gaspesie-Iles-de-la-Madeleine and Bas-Saint-Laurent administrative regions.
The regulation stipulates that the wind farms must be delivered in 2016 and 2017, rather than in 2017 and 2018 as required by the draft regulation introduced last August. There is also a 35% regional-content requirement for the proposed wind farms.
Furthermore, the regulation stipulates that the local ‘environment’ must control at least 50% of the projects and sets the maximum price for electricity producers at C$0.09/kWh.
"This decision by the government of Quebec, eagerly awaited by the wind power industry, is good news and will secure thousands of jobs," says Frederic Cote, general manager of the TechnoCentre eolien in Gaspe.
Separately, the Canadian Wind Energy Association (CanWEA) issued a statement saying that as Quebec prepares its new energy policy, the province has the opportunity to solidify its position as a North American wind energy producer and attract new investments to the province
"By implementing a steady, stable framework, Quebec can claim its place as a world leader in wind energy and encourage the growth and development of the sector in Quebec," comments Jean-Francois Nolet, CanWEA's vice president of policy and government affairs. Nolet later adds, "Quebec's wind energy industry is offering its full co-operation to the government to ensure the sector's role as a driver of growth for Quebec and its regions."
