Articles

Here is a quick overview of our achievements during 2012-2013

Promote

• 55 mentions in the national media
• 10 press releases promoting sector development
• 4 letters to the editor published in the national media
• New bilingual website with sector specific navigation
• First photo contest "The face of renewable energy in Quebec"

Develop

• 118 members actively engaged in 6 renewable energy sectors
• 17 new members
• 14 allied organizations and government departments
• 13 symposium sponsors
• 9 annual partners
• 4 strategic alliances with other entities working in related fields

Inform

• 200 participants, 10 booths, 25 speakers and 4 professional training sessions at our 2013 symposium
• 4 conferences given in Europe and the US
• 7 television/radio interviews on major issues
• Secor-KPMG study on economic spin-offs of wind power projects in Quebec
• Monitoring of by-laws, decrees and orders issued by the Quebec government
• Analysis of political party platforms during the election campaign

Contribute

• Presentation on biogas at the Regroupement National des Conseils Régionaux de l'Environnement du Québec (National Group of Regional Environment Councils of Quebec)
• Presentation on biogas at the Association Pétrolière et Gazière du Québec (Quebec Oil and Gas Association) annual conference

With border issues coming to a head in wind power development, a change of government, the decommissioning of Gentilly 2, the anticipated announcement of an RFP for 700 MW of wind energy and debates on whether or not Quebec is producing too much electricity, 2012-2013 certainly has been an interesting year. Through it all, we continued our efforts to build relationships and to create winning conditions for the development of renewable energy. We prepared briefing books for key members of the new government, our issue-specific letters to the editor were published in the main newspapers and we launched our new websites.

The biogas committee prepared biomethanation guidelines, worked toward obtaining an RFP for landfill and cogeneration biogas and promoted the injection of biomethane into the gas grid.

The biomass committee's activities were targeted to cogeneration RFP mechanisms, resulting in an initial RFP of 150 MW being raised to 300 MW. Work is in progress to ensure adequate raw materials are distributed equitably to both old and new biomass plants and the committee is also preparing for the Quebec consultations toward a new energy strategy.

While preparing the renewal of the APR-91 contracts, hydro producers were hit by the news that the government was cancelling its small hydro program. Small hydro power plant operators and developers, communities and other organizations immediately rallied and are actively working to ensure the long-term survival of the sector.

Our wind power committee, together with CanWEA and several other organizations, worked tirelessly to obtain an RFP for the 700 MW still outstanding from Quebec's last energy plan. The government eventually announced plans for 800 MW of wind power to be be divided between First Nations communities (150 MW), Hydro-Québec Production (200 MW), the Gaspé-Îles-de-la-Madeleine and Lower Saint-Lawrence regions (300 MW) and the rest of Quebec (150 MW). The committee also developed guidelines and protocols for birds and bats; their efforts resulted in directives that both protect wildlife and yield significant savings for wind farm operators. SECOR-KPMG was commissioned to study the real economic impact of wind power development for the regions. Its findings were very positive; they are available here.

The consequences of the 2014 Quebec elections, the end (in 2015) of the current energy policy, the effect of climate change and of the economic crisis on the social acceptance of projects, and the temporary surplus situation will all have some influence on the health of Quebec's renewable energy sector in the coming year.

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AQPER member companies make some of their top people available to the Association to help it fulfill its mission. These engineers, lawyers, biologists and high-level managers who work in the field every day can identify strategic issues and make important contributions to the Association's policies and positions.

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Governmental support
Quebec’s 2006-2015 Energy Plan (Stratégie énergétique 2006-2015) created expectations for renewable energy development in the Province. A commitment to 4000 MW of wind power production capacity, the signing of contracts with small hydro producers and ambitious GGE reduction targets all pointed to growth for the sector.

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The AQPER is well acquainted with the political, economic and social environment in which its members operate. This thorough understanding shines through in strong lines of argument and well-thought-out actions designed to further advance renewable energy on several levels.

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