2023-08-22 01:18:48
Another wind turbine project is interrupted in Quebec for lack of time to study it. Hydromega announced on Monday evening that it is suspending its project for 14 wind turbines in Salaberry-de-Valleyfield.
In a report broadcast on August 14, citizens complained of having been informed in the middle of July of the project planned behind their homes. The 205-meter high wind turbines, with the blades, would have been the tallest ever erected in Quebec.
The mayor of Salaberry-de-Valleyfield and the developer himself lamented having to rush citizens to submit the project within the deadlines set by Hydro-Québec last March, with the call for tenders ending on September 12.
In an email received by Radio-Canada, Hydromega announces that it has no choice but to suspend its project.
We believe it is desirable to take a break in order to give ourselves the time necessary to maintain further exchanges with the community and define a real social acceptability for the project.
This is not the first time that a wind turbine project has been put aside for lack of time to study it. Last month, the MRC of Nicolet-Yamaska, in Centre-du-Québec, deemed the deadlines too short, by September 12, and passed its turn.
An eventful meeting of the municipal council
On August 15, during the Salaberry-de-Valleyfield municipal council meeting, dozens of citizens filled the room to convince elected officials to give themselves more time for reflection before accepting the project.
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Dozens of citizens had loudly shown their dissatisfaction with the elected officials of Salaberry-de-Valleyfield, during the municipal council of August 15.
Photo : Radio-Canada / Youtube
Where to one gun on the temple, one of them had said, addressing Mayor Miguel Lemieux. The latter, favorable to the project in principle, had admitted to being faced with a headache and he promised not to make an irreversible decision.
In its e-mail, Hydromega writes that in light of the information meetings held with the population, the exchanges during the municipal council of August 15, as well as the comments that were made to us by the representatives of the City, we we note that many citizens, as well as elected officials, wish to obtain more information and feel pressed by the tight deadline of the call for tenders.
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Cédric Lascombe, vice-president of development and investments at Hydroméga
Photo : Radio-Canada / Thomas Gerbet
The company recalls that Hydro-Québec has never imposed a call for tenders for wind energy with such short deadlines.
The Legault government realized last year that Quebec risked running out of electrical power within a few years. Hydro-Québec anticipates the end of the surpluses as early as 2027. Since then, a race against time has begun.
Hydro-Quebec defended the timetable for its call for tenders, which it considers realistic, and encouraged the promoters to wait for a next wind call for tenders if they run out of time. The social acceptability of the projects is a condition established by the Crown corporation and by the Legault government to give its approval.
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The 10 zones chosen by Hydro-Québec for the September 12 call for tenders. The selected projects should be commissioned in 2027, 2028 and 2029.
Photo: Hydro-Quebec
We remain convinced of the relevance of this project, writes Hydromega, in its email. As much to meet the energy needs of Quebec as to provide structuring benefits to the municipality of Salaberry-de-Valleyfield.
It has not been possible to obtain a reaction from the City of Salaberry-de-Valleyfield for the moment.
Hydromega has two other projects in Quebec for the September 12 call for tenders, one in the Beauharnois region, in Montérégie, and one in the Baie-Comeau region, on the North Shore.
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