Gespe'gewa'gi wind power development: historic announcement confirms Gaspésie's strategic role

The Quebec government, Hydro-Québec, the Eastern Energy Alliance and the Mi'gmaq communities of Gespe'gewa'gi join forces to unlock the wind energy potential of the Gaspé and Lower St. Lawrence regions, up to 6,000 MW.

Nergica welcomes the announcement made today in Gaspé by Quebec Premier François Legault, in partnership with the three Mi'gmaw communities of Gespe'gewa'gi, represented by the Mi'gmawei Mawiomi Business Corporation, Hydro-Québec and the Eastern Energy Alliance, confirming the potential of 6,000 MW of wind power for the territories of the Mi'gmaw communities of Gespe'gewa'gi and the Wolastoqiyik Wahsipekuk First Nation.

Present at the announcement, Frédéric Côté, General Manager of Nergica, emphasized that this decision was the culmination of many years of lobbying by regional players:

"This is excellent news for the region. It echoes the representations we've been making for several years to ensure that the region can host more wind power projects. The investments announced are major and structuring: they will bring here strategic infrastructures that will position the region positively for the future",says Mr. Côté.

 The announcement is expected to generate significant spin-offs for the region, notably through the training of specialized manpower at the Cégep de la Gaspésie et des Îles, recognized as a major player in skills development for the wind power sector in Quebec. Nergica maintains that Gaspésie is the cradle of wind power in Quebec, and has successfully demonstrated its exceptional potential and unique expertise for over 25 years.

The concerted efforts and skills developed over the years will enable us to build on this momentum and make renewable energies a vector of economic, social and environmental development for decades to come. In this sense, Mr. Côté affirms that not only is Gaspésie a sure bet for the deployment of renewable energies, but that the region, its players and its communities are more than ever ready to take action to fully develop wind energy potential:

« Renewable energy projects succeed when they are anchored in partnership with local communities and driven by a vision of long-term sustainable development. Today's announcement sets the stage for exploiting our territory's wind energy potential to the full. The Gaspésie is ready, the industry is ready, and the people are ready to take actionn," concludes Mr. Côté.

Finally, Nergica reiterates that strong partnerships are at the heart of its mission, and an essential lever for realizing the vision of wind power in the Gaspé Peninsula and Eastern Quebec. Its close collaborations with aboriginal communities, the Mi'gmawei Mawiomi Business Corporation, Hydro-Québec and the Eastern Energy Alliance are concrete examples of this commitment, which aims to develop projects that are sustainable, inclusive and beneficial to the region.