François Legault on Friday presented the idea of increasing the hydroelectric production of the Romaine complex in order to reach the target of carbon neutrality by 2050.
Hydro-Québec must increase its electricity shipments by 50%, or 100 terawatt hours (TWh), in anticipation of growing electricity demand, according to the 2022-2026 strategic plan presented by Hydro-Québec last March.
Hydro-Québec declined our interview requests considering the current electoral context.
For the prefect of the MRC de Minganie, Luc Noël, the possibility of improving production in the Romaine complex cannot be ruled out. He hopes, however, that the announcement isn’t a tactic to barrage the Magpie.
MRC de la Minganie prefect Luc Noël hopes this announcement is not a tactic to build a dam on the Magpie. (Archive)
Photo: Radio Canada
If Mr. Legault decides to redo other work on the Romaine complex, we are always ready to listen to the offers that Hydro-Québec and the government will make to us. Only with the Magpie it’s an end to ineligibility on our part, he recalls.
“La Romaine is a dam that will bring us royalties, it is a dam that we are willing to renegotiate but we are not willing to sacrifice the magpie. »
— A quote from Luc Noël, Prefect of the MRC de la Minganie
For his part, the President of the Innu Council of Ekuanitshit, Jean-Charles Piétacho, shares Mr Noël’s concerns about the Magpie River, but also remains open to negotiations on François Legault’s project.
For her part, Uapukun Mestokosho, the Québec Solidaire contestant riding Duplessis and Innu by Ekuanitshit, disagrees with the idea of improving or adding new hydroelectric power stations. I think it’s a lack of respect for tribal peoples and our people. We live in a climate emergency, so we must not destroy nature, we must protect it even more, she confides in us.
Québec Solidaire in Duplessis Riding candidate Uapukun Mestokosho instead suggests asking Quebecers to reduce their electricity consumption.
Photo: Radio-Canada / Lambert Gagné-Coulombe
In addition, the Solidarity candidate continues to advance her reflection on hydroelectric power plants. One of my dreams is that all dams built on the rivers would be destroyed so that the rivers could flow naturally, adds Ms. Mestokosho.
suggested solutions
Although the head of the CAQ claims that solar and wind energy may not be enough to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050, Mr. Noël would like to highlight the North Shore’s wind potential.
There are wind sites known to the government at the top of the Romaine-3 power station. Studies have been done, so there would definitely be a great wind project there, says Luc Noël.
For his part, Uapukun Mestokosho instead believes in a lifestyle change for Quebecers. It’s our way of life that needs changing and all the over-consumption that we engage in. We need to change something here to reduce our power consumption, she concludes.
For her part, Marilou Vanier, the Parti Québécois (PQ) candidate in riding Duplessis, did not want to comment before hearing the opinion of the people of the region.
With information from Lambert Gagné-Coulombe