2023-05-09 04:00:00
Quarrels, tragedies, pressure … farmers in Centre-du-Québec at the end of their tether because of a Boralex wind project send a message to the Legault government: there is no question of coming to “plant wind turbines in the throats” of Quebecers .
“I have a great admiration for the Lemaire brothers and Cascades, but their baby Boralex, today, I am ashamed of it. I’m ashamed of what they’re doing with our land,” says Jean Morin, from the Fromagerie du Presbytère, in Sainte-Élizabeth-de-Warwick.
Francis Halin’s photo
Jean Morin, from the Fromagerie du Presbytère, in Sainte-Élizabeth-de-Warwick.
The last days, The newspaper met citizens of the city of 400 souls furious against the Quebec giant Boralex, valued at four billion dollars on the stock market, and which has among its shareholders the Caisse de dépôt et placement (515 million dollars).
“We don’t blame our neighbors who want wind turbines. We have something to say to politics, to those who came to plant wind turbines in our throats,” says Jean Morin, known for his famous Louis d’Or cheese.
Pressure on farmers
According to him, the appetite of the Minister of Energy, Pierre Fitzgibbon, who wants to quadruple the number of megawatts installed in wind power by 2040, is creating panic.
Planting wind turbines in the middle of agricultural land also contradicts the food autonomy of the Minister of Agriculture André Lamontagne, sighs the cheese maker Jean Morin.
“We are scared by saying that there will be a lack of electricity in Quebec,” exasperated Valérie Dumas, a local dairy farmer who owns 200 animals.
Francis Halin’s photo
Valérie Dumas, a dairy farmer who owns nearly 200 animals.
“We put a lot of pressure on us for electricity. Me, I want to live from agriculture, nothing else”, drops with emotion the one who fears nuisance for her animals.
“The only approach is monetary. We never talked about the health effects. It is unthinkable”, protests in turn Rémi Barmettler, a dairy producer with 200 hectares of land.
Francis Halin’s photo
Rémi Barmettler, a dairy producer with 200 hectares of land.
For Pascal Aguettaz, a retired vice-president of North American energy supplies for Cascades, Boralex must redo his homework.
“It is not with 400 megawatts misplaced that we will solve the problem. It is not normal that it is the farmers who receive this pressure. We tell them: “If we run out of power, it will be your fault”, he complains.
Francis Halin’s photo
Pascal Aguettaz, a retired vice president of North American energy supplies for Cascades.
Au JournalPascal Aguettaz insists: his group is for wind turbines, but against this badly polished project in his region.
“We need electricity”
Two blocks away, the mayor of Sainte-Élizabeth-de-Warwick, Claire Rioux, says she is in favor of the project which will help farmers who are more financially tight to seek additional income in these more difficult times.
The one who met Boralex a few times is clear: it takes money for public transit, paving and daycare.
Francis Halin’s photo
Claire Rioux, Mayor of Sainte-Élizabeth-de-Warwick.
“If we have the maximum of 22 wind turbines on the project of 67 in the region, that would double the income of the City from $600,000 to $1.2 million,” she breathes.
At the MRC d’Arthabaska, its prefect Christian Côté, who plans to extend 12% of the total cost of 1.2 billion dollars, or 114 million dollars, wants to be reassuring.
“No one is going to have a wind turbine imposed on their land,” assures the man who also wears the hat of mayor of Kingsey Falls. He says on the contrary that the project could even make it possible to enlarge the agricultural territory with new plots in the surroundings.
Boralex defends itself
At Boralex, we note that it has organized numerous information sessions since last June.
“Each farmer is free to make his own decision, whether he wishes to participate in the project”, recalls his spokesperson Jordan Longchamps.
Boralex reminds that the project must be retained by Hydro-Québec, then obtain the approval of the Bureau d’audiences publiques sur l’environnement and the Commission de protection du territoire agricole du Québec.
“The project represents significant and lasting economic benefits, not only for the farmers, but for the entire community,” he concludes.
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Highlights
Opponents of wind turbines regret that they can be installed 700 m from a house, 300 m from a livestock building and 30 m from a well.
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