Quebec gives itself free rein to produce more energy
The Legault Government has just submitted a large project to meet its objectives in terms of production and energy transition. The bill, which bears number 69, aims to simplify Hydro Quebec call for tender process so that the state company can carry out large projects, such as electricity “highways”, giga wind projects and new hydroelectric plants. As Minister Fitzgibbon pointed out, when announcing the new law, this latter is necessary to remedy to processes that are currently too slow and projects that are not completed quickly enough. “There is no question that Quebec will lose its competitive advantage in the face of clean energy,” he declared at the press conference.
The bill also provides an integrated energy resources management plan detailing directions, objectives and targets to be achieved to decarbonize the province by 2050. As Quebec will inevitably have to work harder to achieve this, the minister confirmed that it will be necessary to develop in 25 years the electricity that Quebec took 100 years to build. The integrated energy resources management plan must be put in place by the Ministers of Economy and Innovation and Energy. Bill 69 will also entrust the Régie de l’Énergie with the responsibility of setting one or more Hydro Quebec residential customer rates to encourage the reduction of electricity consumption during peak periods. This so-called dynamic pricing already exists, but it remains optional and modulated by the state company. Minister Fitzgibbon confirmed that Quebecers will have to consume less and that modulation, which is seen everywhere in the world currently, is part of the logical solution to achieve our objectives. He still announced that, for the moment, dynamic pricing will not be mandatory and that things will be done gradually for Quebecers.
It is certain that Bill 69 remains an ambitious project, but as the advertising campaign relating to it clearly underlines, we must be aware of the necessity of all these actions for our planet and for our future generations. To quote the words of Minister Fitzgibbon, let us remember the importance of pooling our efforts for a more prosperous Quebec, a greener Quebec and certainly, a prouder Quebec.
Source: Jérome Labbé, Radio Canada
Photo: Radio Canada