Project Description
Project Moulins
On May 5th of this year, Hydro-Québec announced that it retained 15 projects for a total of 2004,5 MW within the framework of the bid launched on October 31st, 2005, for the purchase of wind energy produced in Quebec. The deliveries of electricity will be spread out from 2011 till 2015.
The project of the Parc des Moulins of 3Ci was chosen among the 15 projects. This project of 156 MW will begin the delivery of electricity in December 2011. The wind energy park will be constructed in three municipalities: Kinnear Mills, St-Jean-de-Brébeuf and Thetford Mines
In the meantime, several steps are necessary to ensure the realization of the project. This section presents the different stages of the project before construction begins.
Project history
| Beginning of 2006 : | First approach with the municipal environment |
| 2006 : | Wind measurements are taken in different parts of the region |
| End of 2006 : | Meetings with concerned property owners |
| November 2006 : | Visit of the wind park in Baie des Sables with the potential property owners |
| February 2007 : | Public announcement on the intention of 3Ci to present a project to Hydro-Québec Public information meetings in the 3 concerned municipalities |
| April 2007 : | Amendment of zoning regulations lot and PIIA for the big wind turbines, by the City of Thetford Mines Agreement suits concluded between the agricultural and forest representatives (UPA) and 3Ci |
| Summer of 2007 : | Signature of contracts with the concerned owners |
| July 2007 : | Amendment of zoning regulations, licence and certificate for the big wind turbines, by the municipality of St-Jean-de-Brébeuf. |
| September 2007 : | Parc des Moulins project is submitted to Hydro-Québec |
| December 2007 : | Amendment of zoning regulations, licence and certificate for the big wind turbines, by the municipalité of Kinnear’s Mills. Signature of a protocol of agreement between 3Ci and the Economic diversification committee of the Thetford region. |
| May 2008 : | Announcement by Hydro-Québec that the project Moulins is retained. |
The next stages
Before construction begins, the next stages will be crucial for the success of the project. In fact, what is necessary so that a project of such a scale becomes a reality?
Environment
The environmental issue is probably the most important stage of the project. It will be necessary to proceed with an inventory of the fauna and the flora, to evaluate visual and sound impacts as well as and the effects on telecommunications and to prepare the studies. It will be necessary to submit, in parallel, a demand to the Agricultural Territory Protection Committee of Quebec.
The environmental study should be completed in the fall of 2008 and submitted to the Ministry of the Environment for an analysis. In the eventuality that a public audience would be asked, this last one could be held in the summer of 2009. The project will have to receive the approval of the BAPE before any construction begins.
From a regulations standpoint, promoter will have to obtain the licences from the MRC, the concerned municipalities, airline and road companies and all the authorities concerned by the construction.
Construction
The project will require the construction of about 40 kilometres of road on private lands. The summer of 2008 will thus be marked by meetings with the owners to validate the plan of the new roads. The plan of the new road considers the presence of existing forest roads, the type of planting, slopes and the current use and by the owner.
When the final plan for the roads and the preliminary place of wind turbines will be determined, a public information meeting will be organized by 3Ci to present the project to the population.
After the obtaining of all the licences and the authorizations, construction of the roads and the clearing is scheduled in the spring of 2010 and erection of wind turbines in spring 2011 for a complete starting in December 2011.
The sale contract with Hydro-Québec Distribution foresees the purchase of the energy produced by wind farms for a duration of 20 years until December 2032. When due, the contract foresees a complete dismantling of the wind farm including wind turbines, superior sections of the concrete base, the roads and the distribution network.
The continuation…
Although the project is still in its development phase, we shall keep you informed on the stages of the project as they will be known. Anyone who has comments or questions on the project can make them at the moment at any stage of the process.
Project information
Brian Gignac
418.338.2188 ext. 230
commissaireadjoint@regionthetford.com
Société de développement économique de la région de Thetford (CLD)
222, boul. Frontenac Ouest - suite 280
Thetford Mines, Québec, Canada
G6G 6N7
Téléphone : (418) 338-2188
Télécopieur : (418) 338-4984
Date d'impression: Mercredi, le 10 Mars 2010