By 2015, Quebec's wind energy industry will develop 4,000 MW of generating capacity, resulting in C$10 billion in new investment, thousands of new jobs and significant economic benefits for those regions hosting wind farm developments, according to a study commissioned by the Canadian Wind Energy Association (CanWEA) by the firm Hatch in collaboration with economist Jean-Claude Thibodeau.
‘These are more than just numbers; these are real jobs for people living in areas of the province that have been hit by declines to other industries,’ says Robert Hornung, president of CanWEA. ‘Wind energy is the fastest-growing source of new electricity generation in Canada, and Quebec is a leader in capturing the economic benefits associated with this growth.’
In the report, titled ‘WindVision 2025: A Strategy for Quebec,’ CanWEA advocates that Quebec continue to develop wind power beyond 2015 by adding an additional 8,000 MW by 2025. Quebec currently has 663 MW of installed wind energy capacity.
The new phase would generate C$25 million in investments and would create 90,000 jobs during the construction phase – more than 9,140 jobs per year between 2016 and 2025 – as well as 4,500 permanent operations and maintenance jobs by 2025, according to the report. The economic benefits for landowners and municipalities would climb to C$95 million per year.
SOURCE: Canadian Wind Energy Association
