Published at 1:01 am. Updated at 5:00 am.
(Saint-Ferréol-les-Neiges) Pierre Harvey disappears for a moment and then returns with documents in his hands. The former Olympian spreads them out on his dining table. He points to a map and begins to explain.
“You see, this is where the wind turbines are installed. This is Mont Sainte Anne Park. It's very close. That's what scares us. »
The former cross-country skier and cyclist, father of Alex Harvey, has lived in Saint-Ferréol-les-Neiges since 1988. At that time, the community, about forty minutes from Quebec City, had just half of its current population of 3,800. But it was already attracting new residents because of its proximity to nature.
“The attraction here is the park. “So if you come to build 200m high wind turbines glued to the park… When we get out of the top of the gondola we will only see wind turbines,” says Pierre Harvey, who says he is afraid of collapse The attraction that Mont-Sainte-Anne Park exerts on tourists and visitors.
IMAGE FROM THE IMPACT STUDY
Visual simulation at the summit of Mont Sainte-Anne, looking north
The demand for electricity in Quebec is constantly increasing. Hydro-Québec aims to triple wind production capacity by 2035. Projects will increase in the province and with them questions of social acceptance.
The Des Neiges megaproject, developed by Boralex, Hydro-Québec and Énergir, will be the largest in Canada at the end of its three phases with a capacity of 1,200 MW. The first, the southern sector, will be stationed north of Saint-Ferréol. Construction is scheduled to begin in spring 2025.
MAP FROM THE SEIGNEURIE DE BEAUPRÉ WIND PARKS WEBSITE
Citizens are concerned about the impact that the southern part of the Des Neiges wind project will have on the Mont-Sainte-Anne park.
Citizens, including Pierre Harvey, are concerned about the proximity of the wind turbines to Mont Sainte Anne Park. The nearest one will be half a kilometer away. The opponents started a petition that collected around 1,200 signatures. They demand a buffer zone of 3 km.
“We understand that we like wind energy better than nuclear power or building dams and using rivers,” says Pierre Harvey. But give us a buffer zone! »
No rule for Mont-Sainte-Anne
The development plan of the MRC de la Côte-de-Beaupré stipulates that “no wind turbine may be installed less than three kilometers from the boundaries of the Jacques-Cartier National Park and the Montmorency Forest,” unless “to ensure invisibility be”.
Much to the dismay of opponents, the MRC rules say nothing about the park at the Mont-Sainte-Anne tourist station, which includes the famous Alpine resort but also a large cross-country skiing center and mountain bike trails.
PHOTO EDOUARD PLANTE-FRÉCHETTE, LA PRESS
Mount Sainte Anne
The company Boralex, which manages the project and takes care of its operations, replies that this is impossible: if a buffer zone of 3 km had to be respected, 17 of the project's approximately 70 wind turbines would have to be removed.
“The removal of 17 wind turbines would make the project completely unviable as we would not be able to achieve the 400 MW that we had committed to providing,” Pascale Fortin-Richard, manager of environment and relations with the center, said recently , told Hydro-Québec Boralex, during an information evening hosted by the Office of Public Hearings on the Environment (BAPE).
What also worries some residents is the size of the park. The $1 billion project will include 67 wind turbines, which will be among the tallest in Quebec with a blade length of almost 200 meters.
However, Boralex is calming. It ran several visual simulations and the impact was “limited,” according to the company. “It is certain that there will be visibility, we are not hiding it. Nevertheless, I think everyone can imagine how big the impact is in retrospect. We think it could work well together. »
A divided village
The Des Neiges project has created many departments in Saint-Ferréol. “It was a bit of a stir,” admits Mayor Mélanie Royer-Couture, referring to a local council meeting at the beginning of December.
Citizens marched to the microphone to express their concerns. But the mayor of Saint-Ferréol and the council officially supported the project, as did the other mayors of the MRC.
“Will it impact the landscape to the point where people stop visiting our community? I don't believe that. I don’t think there will be a negative impact on our region,” says Ms. Royer-Couture.
PHOTO MARTIN CHAMBERLAND, LA PRESSE ARCHIVE
The mayor of Saint-Ferréol-les-Neiges, Mélanie Royer-Couture
The fact that a wind turbine doesn't look good in the landscape is subjective from person to person.
Mélanie Royer-Couture, mayor of Saint-Ferréol-les-Neiges
The mayor reminds that the nearest wind turbine will be 5 km from the top of the ski resort. The nearest cross-country ski trail is 1.7 km away.
The project will also be installed on private property belonging to the Seigneurie de Beaupré, which belongs to the Séminaire de Québec, recalls the mayor. Therefore, even if it wanted to, the community would have very little room for maneuver to oppose a project on the edge of its territory.
The project sponsors are also discussing a fee for the municipalities with the MRC de Beaupré. Saint-Ferréol is a little too dependent on property taxes, the mayor notes, and new revenue would be welcome.
“And then in 2023 we will be at a climate and energy turning point. We must consider the common good and not just our personal interests,” adds Ms. Royer-Couture.
Pierre Harvey says he agrees with the mayor on this point.
PHOTO EDOUARD PLANTE-FRÉCHETTE, LA PRESS
Former Olympian Pierre Harvey has lived in Saint-Ferréol-les-Neiges since 1988.
We don't want to be selfish, we are for green energy, we are for the Quebec economy. We say, “Why don’t we put them further away, 3 km away?”
Pierre Harvey, resident of Saint-Ferréol-les-Neiges
According to Pierre Harvey, there is a risk that the wind farm will affect the attractiveness of the Mont-Sainte-Anne park. In his opinion, such a development would be unthinkable around another major train station near Montreal.
“Do you think there would be no backlash if we installed so many wind turbines at the base of the mountain in Tremblant? asks Mr. Harvey. “That wouldn’t happen in Bromont! “Here in Saint-Ferréol we are like the turkey of the joke,” accuses the man, who says he is being “let down” by the elected local politicians.
A public hearing in sight?
Could Hydro-Québec ask its partners for a buffer zone with Mont-Sainte-Anne Park? “The current process led by BAPE to collect comments and concerns from citizens and ensure that the project meets the Ministry's expectations is exactly the right thing to improve the social acceptance of the project. We trust both this process and our partner to arrive at the best possible project,” the state-owned company replied in an email.
BAPE received 16 public consultation requests. The Environment Ministry has until January 10th to examine their admissibility. The government could then order a public hearing or mediation to be held.
Mont-Sainte-Anne's Alberta manager, Resorts of the Canadian Rockies (RCR), said in an email to La Presse that it preferred not to comment on the matter.
The largest wind farm in Canada
The lands of the Séminaire de Québec near the capital form the largest private territory in Canada. Here, in the Seigneurie de Beaupré, Boralex, Énergir and Hydro-Québec want to build the three phases of the Des Neiges wind project. Including the 164 wind turbines that have been installed in the area for several years, the megaproject will ultimately have 365 wind turbines with a total capacity of 1,564 MW.