Canada - Quebec steps up wind power production

The government announced Wednesday a $3-billion plan to add 2,000 megawatts to the 1,000 megawatts now being developed. Premier Jean Charest says the project will launch Quebec to the forefront of wind power production. Hydro-Québec President Thierry Vandal says once the new 2,000 megawatts are installed, Quebec will account for about seven percent of current world production. The private sector will pay for most of the project, Vandal says. "We are calling for tenders with private developers," Vandal explained at a Wednesday press conference. "Alongside of that $3 billion, there will be certain investments that Hydro-Québec is going to have to make in terms of upgrading its grid and integrating the power and capacity on the grid." Charest says the government wants to use the wind power project as a tool for regional development.

"In the first 1,000 megawatts, there was a requirement that the manufacturing be done ... in the region of the Bas-St-Laurent, Gaspésie and Iles-de-la-Madeleine. We want to consolidate that region in regards to its manufacturing," he says, noting Hydro-Québec will now decide what percentage of the work will be done in those regions. The government says the project will create 4,000 jobs during construction and 200 permanent ones once its completed in 2013.