Hydro Quebec 101 continues

Hydro Quebec Strategic Plan 2006-2015

Please take the time to follow the link above and discover the wisdom HQ has used for decades. For Quebec energy plans are part of normal business - developed and altered on an annual basis as need be. It's called planning and vision. Our province has never released a complete Energy Plan.

I will give you this quote from the plan - "...Objectives include strengthening the security of Quebec's energy supply, making use of energy as a lever for economic development and using energy more efficiently. The strategy calls for accelerating the development of major hydroelectric projects and promoting other renewable forms of energy."


The state of Vermont is a long-term customer of Hydro Quebec. It is argued of course that some of the Upper Churchill winds its way there.
The reality of course is the Upper Churchill power simply goes to the Quebec grid and mixes with other supply generated inside that Province.
In either case, of course, HQ profits soar from the 5000 MW's resident in Labrador.
Over the past decade or so HQ has concentrated on energy acquisitions worldwide, R & D with Quebec companies and investing in power projects wherever on the planet it makes sense.
Over the next decade HQ will be pumping billions into new generation inside Quebec or for Quebec from other jurisdictions (ie. Lower Churchill). They need to do this as domestic supply is no longer comfortably meeting their needs and they have even imported power over the past couple of years. Further export contracts with states and provinces are due to expire over the next 5-10 years. In order to keep the export ability of HQ at the same level it is today, Quebec must find new generation, and for Quebec that means renewable.
HQ must also consider economic development in Quebec over the same period - as this crown utility does serve the province in that manner. Quebec knows that cheap Chinese labour is going to cut into their industrial prowess and growth and they are prepared to use low-cost power and natural raw resources such as minerals and wood to keep manufacturing and the hundreds of thousands of jobs in Quebec. They will also entice some American and Ontarian industry to the province by the same formula.
This is the problem, Quebec needs more domestic power and it needs an increase in excess power to keep the lucrative export sales going.
For our part we have no vision - we see no need for power - we anticipate no growth in our industrial sector for the next 30-40 years. We are prepared to boost the economies of central Canada because we do not see ourselves growing. That vision is paramount to watching your own funeral for 50 years.
Please read the News Release below and draw your own conclusions on the value of power - and how desparate it becomes when you don't know where the next bit of energy is coming from. Also consider what Vermont might actually be willing to pay to keep getting hydro from Quebec.

NEWS RELEASE HERE