Projects requiring less than 5 megawatts (MW), such as small factories, factories or certain large retail stores, will not be automatically accepted by Hydro-Québec, the state-owned company’s new CEO said Tuesday. , Michael Sabia. Hydro contradicts its CEO and assures that it remains committed to connecting these projects.
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In response to a question from Chamber of Commerce executive director Michel Leblanc, who asked whether Hydro-Québec would commit to providing electricity to any project requiring less than 5 MW, regardless of the project, Mr. Sabia replied: “Not necessarily. “ .”
“In my opinion, two criteria are necessary,” he said. Firstly, economic benefits. This means the development of a supply chain here in Quebec and sustainable jobs that will be the result of this investment,” he told an audience of business people during an event organized by the Montreal Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce on Tuesday.
“Then is there a reasonable probability? [de] create an industry with a global competitive advantage that is sustainable? continued Mr. Sabia. These two criteria should guide our decision-making.”
Remember that Quebec passed Bill 2 in February. In particular, this ensures that the government, in collaboration with Hydro-Québec, selects high-performance projects, that is, projects of 5 MW and more. Previously, the state-owned company was obliged to serve projects with an output of less than 50 MW.
Michael Sabia’s comments therefore indicate that Hydro-Québec would no longer be obliged to service the projects still under its responsibility, namely projects of less than 5 MW. However, this is not the case, says Hydro-Québec.
“Mr. Sabia was simply referring to his high-level personal views on the projects that could have the most lasting benefits for Quebec,” says Maxence Huard-Lefebvre of Hydro-Québec. The latter ensures that under 5 MW the connection obligation for Hydro-Québec “It is clear.” “There is no intention to change the current guidelines on this issue,” he specifies.
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