Entitled “WindVision 2025 - A Strategy for Quebec”, the roadmap establishes an overall target of 8,000 MW over the next 15 years, increasing wind energy to 20% of Quebec’s overall installed capacity for electricity generation.
According to CanWEA, this long-term objective would stimulate $25 billion (€18 billion) in industry investment, which would “ensure the sustainability and growth of this rapidly developing industry, and serve to diversify Quebec’s renewable energy portfolio”. Implementing this strategy would see significant economic benefits for Quebec and its regions, creating nearly 91,000 new construction jobs, which represents more than 9,800 jobs (p/y), 1,200 permanent new jobs in wind farm maintenance and operations, while providing continued support for 800 regional manufacturing jobs.
“We believe it is critical that the Quebec Government explore options for wind energy development beyond 2015 in an effort to provide investors in wind energy projects and manufacturing facilities with the long-term certainty required to maintain their focus on opportunities in Quebec”, said CanWEA President Robert Hornung. “Increased wind energy development can also support Quebec’s goals to increase electrification of the economy and increase electricity exports”.
A longer-term vision for wind energy development in Quebec can allow Quebec to build on its success to date and further strengthen wind energy’s role as an emerging pillar of Quebec’s energy and industrial development. CanWEA believes that future development of wind energy should continue to proceed through competitive tendering processes for major projects, while smaller, community based projects, should be provided a fixed price for the energy produced.
“Social acceptability of wind energy development is fundamental to the achievement of CanWEA’s vision and remains at the heart of CanWEA’s commitment to support the responsible and sustainable growth of wind energy in Canada,” said CanWEA President, Robert Hornung. “New wind energy projects will support Quebec’s leadership role in addressing climate change and will also provide significant economic benefits to rural communities throughout the province, but successful implementation will require project developers to seek and obtain broad community support through proactive and effective community engagement and consultation.
CanWEA is the voice of Canada’s wind energy industry, actively promoting the responsible and sustainable growth of wind energy on behalf of its more than 450 members. A national non-profit association, CanWEA serves as Canada’s leading source of credible information about wind energy and its social, economic and environmental benefits.
For additional information:
WindVision 2025 - A Strategy for Quebec
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