CanWEA and its membership had argued the original proposed pricing of 9.5 ¢/kWh was not sufficient to attract or sustain long-term investment.
The Quebec Government anticipates these two RFPs will generate $1.3 billion in investments and create more than 4,000 jobs, bringing both economic and social benefits to many regions of the province. The RFPs were launched yesterday with the first wind energy projects expected to be operational as early as 2012, putting Quebec on track to meet its target of developing 4,000MW of wind energy by 2015.
“This new procurement process and the revised pricing within it is timely news for both the wind energy industry in Quebec and the many communities that will benefit directly from local jobs and new investment within the current economic context,” said Robert Hornung, president of CanWEA. “We wish to highlight the work of the Hon.Claude Béchard, Minister of Natural Resources and Wildlife, and his Ministry staff in working towards a pricing structure which will set the foundation for a growing and sustainable wind energy industry in Quebec.”
