The Legault government announced a partnership with the Mi’gmaq community of Gesgapegiag, the Alliance de l’énergie de l’Est, and Hydro-Québec for wind power development in Eastern Quebec. The partnership represents a potential investment of up to $18 billion. It is estimated that it could generate 6,000 megawatts (MW), which is “the amount of electricity used, for example, by the entire island of Montreal. That’s huge,” said Premier François Legault during the announcement in Gaspé on Wednesday. The investments could be even greater with the construction of a power transmission line in the Gaspé Peninsula. “These investments will generate major economic and social benefits for the region, particularly in terms of job creation, workforce training, and diversification of community and municipal revenues,” a government press release states. It added that this “partnership is part of the government and Hydro-Québec’s strategy to develop more than 10,000 MW of new wind power capacity by 2035, in collaboration with First Nations and municipalities.” “I said at the beginning of my term: Quebec is in danger of becoming the battery of northeastern North America. This is becoming more and more real. So we need more electricity, of course for citizens, but also to attract businesses,” added the premier. It should be noted that the government and Hydro-Québec want to double electricity production by 2050 in order to decarbonize the province. “In Quebec, we spend $10 billion a year on fossil fuel supplies. That’s crazy. So let’s take some of that money and invest it in renewable energy, which will generate benefits for Quebecers and clearly transform the Quebec economy, in addition to contributing to the well-being of the planet,” said Energy Minister Christine Fréchette, who was also present at the announcement. Similar agreements have been signed in the Bas-Saint-Laurent and Saguenay-Lac-Saint-Jean regions for wind power developments of up to 5,000 MW, which are investments in the order of $15 billion. “The partnership we are announcing today ... is the largest commitment to wind power development in North America,” said Hydro-Québec CEO Claudine Bouchard. Last June, the Legault government rushed through the controversial Bill 69, which aims to give Hydro-Québec free rein to increase its electricity production. To justify the use of closure, Minister Fréchette stated that passing the bill before the summer would save $6 billion on the wind power strategy and “create 1,000 well-paying jobs in the regions.” The wind power strategy is valued at $30 billion. This report by The Canadian Press was first published in French on Aug. 27, 2025. By Thomas Laberge, The Canadian Press
