Dissatisfied with the Hydro-Québec CEO’s responses to preserving the state-owned company’s monopoly, solidarity activists argue that wind is a public good and criticize private wind projects offered to large companies.
• Also read: No privatization of Hydro-Québec, assures Legault
• Also read: Private power generation: “This is just the beginning,” says Fitzgibbon
“Wind is a public good and we should not break this monopoly,” said energy spokesman Haroun Bouazzi. “The wind is a commodity that belongs to all of us. You know, we used to talk about oil fields, now we’re talking about wind fields.”
“Already there is energy production through wind turbines, which is done exclusively through the use of the private sector, as if in Hydro-Québec it was very good to put turbines in the water, but putting them in the wind would be complicated.”
Yesterday, its parliamentary leader, Gabriel Nadeau-Dubois, said that Hydro-Québec’s monopoly is under threat because the government and Hydro-Québec are allowing more large companies to produce their own electricity.
The TES Canada company will be able to generate its own energy using wind power on land located 30 km from its factory in Shawinigan.
“Fitzgibbon says get ready, it will be everywhere. We think it is dangerous and once again we believe that electricity is a public good,” he reiterated.
The visit of Hydro-Québec’s CEO, Michael Sabia, did not reassure Mr. Bouazzi, even though he made a strong plea for the public institution.
“The story doesn’t reassure me. It’s not enough to say it,” he said.
The CEO defends the institution
During his testimony to elected officials on Thursday, the CEO said he wants to build a strong public institution in Quebec for the future and future generations.
Stevens LeBlanc/JOURNAL DE QUEBEC
He took the opportunity to say that he was uncomfortable with the idea put forward by Québec Solidaire of denationalizing the state-owned company.
“I firmly believe in the importance of public institutions like Hydro-Québec, like the Caisse de dépôt,” said the CEO of the state-owned company.
“These two organizations have long been pillars of modern Quebec,” he said firmly.
He claims that after his time at the Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec, this public institution built an excellent reputation on the world stage.
“At Hydro-Québec the circumstances are different, but fundamentally it’s the same challenge.”
Its goal is to consolidate and build a public institution for the future.
“We have just announced an investment program with investments by a public entity of $150 billion to $180 billion,” he notes.
Violation?
PQ leader Pascal Paradis assures that he will keep an eye on the state-owned company in this matter so that it does not become a “violation” to give large companies the opportunity to enrich themselves.
He understands that the law allows a company to produce its electricity on its land and produce it itself in its “backyard” for its “own needs.”
However, the law also allows “a private transport network,” he says.
“At what point does it become a violation, especially if there is also a connection from the same company or the same manufacturer to the public network, then what is the connection between the two?” Isn’t that then a violation? What happens if… if there is then a resale of the electricity to Hydro-Québec?” he analyzed.
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