Understanding Wind and Solar Energy for Municipalities

More and more developers are proposing renewable energy projects to municipalities in Quebec. However, when evaluating these projects, municipalities often lack the criteria needed to determine whether a project is technologically and economically viable. This imbalance puts elected officials and municipal staff in a difficult position when faced with complex proposals.

In partnership with the Union of Quebec Municipalities, we have developed a series of seven fact sheets on wind and solar energy, intended for municipalities, industry experts, and the general public. Five fact sheets focus on wind power and two on solar power, covering topics ranging from an overview of the technologies to project oversight, including development on agricultural land, environmental impacts, and frequently asked questions.

These fact sheets are not merely theoretical. They draw on our hands-on experience in operations and maintenance—particularly with solar microgrids—to provide information grounded in real-world operational realities. The partnership goes beyond documentation: at the request of member municipalities, we analyze the technical documents submitted by project developers and evaluate the projects’ profitability, ensuring that every decision is based on validated data. Training programs round out our offerings, covering topics ranging from solar power to energy storage and green hydrogen, as well as social acceptance.

As Quebec reopens its electricity market and invests in new renewable energy capacity, this initiative has a simple goal: to give municipalities the tools they need to participate in the transition with full knowledge of the facts, at a pace that suits their communities and in their best interests.

The seven downloadable fact sheets are hosted on the platform For the Climate from the UMQ

• Wind Energy Fact Sheet No. 1 – Introduction to Wind Energy Technology
• Wind Energy Fact Sheet No. 2 – The Development of Wind Energy Projects on Farmland
• Wind Energy Fact Sheet No. 3 – Regulatory Framework for Wind Energy Projects in Quebec
• Wind Energy Fact Sheet No. 4 – Wind Energy and Its Impacts on the Environment
• Wind Energy Fact Sheet No. 5 – Questions and Answers About Wind Energy
• Solar Fact Sheet No. 1 – Photovoltaic Technology and Environmental Impacts
• Solar Fact Sheet No. 2 – Operation and Maintenance of Solar Power Plants