2024
June
Minister Pierre Fitzgibbon introduces Bill 69 on the governance of Quebec's energy resources. Équiterre has reservations about this bill, since its main objective is to accelerate energy production rather than to reduce consumption.
Ongoing
Quebec’s Energy Future
We need to focus on collective energy sobriety and energy efficiency
The context
The demand for renewable energy is constantly increasing. In Quebec, we need to make ecologically responsible choices to make better use of our limited hydroelectric resources.
50% of the energy consumed in Quebec in 2020 was still from fossil fuels. To decarbonize Quebec's buildings, vehicles and industries and transition this use of fossil fuels to renewable energy, we will need at least an additional one-half Hydro-Québec (in other words, at least 100 TWh) by 2050, according to government estimates.
Our current surplus of hydroelectricity will soon be gone. We therefore cannot count on it to ensure the transition of all sectors, nor for Quebec's energy security.
Quebec does not have an energy strategy or policy to quickly transition away from fossil fuels and meet our climate targets by 2050.
The issues
The Quebec government is looking to increase renewable energy production, particularly hydroelectric, without first putting measures in place to reduce the demand for energy.
The intention to increase production is not motivated solely by the needs of the energy transition, but also in order to attract energy-intensive industries. In the midst of a climate and biodiversity crisis, the future of our energy cannot be guided solely by economic development.
Increasing electricity production, regardless of the type of energy (e.g. hydro, solar or wind), has socio-environmental impacts. Building new hydroelectric plants and dams cannot be the only solution.
The opportunity
When the government hinted at potential new "dams" during the 2022 election period, Équiterre started to mobilize.
Before making major decisions about the province's energy future, we must ensure that the government is well informed about the different perspectives, the multitude of possible solutions and the impacts of various scenarios. We want these decisions to be made in a transparent manner, within an energy strategy that is aligned with the province's climate targets and territorial development plans. Up until now, this is unfortunately not the case.
Équiterre and its partners called on the government to hold a large societal debate on our energy future. In the summer of 2023, the government proposed a format that did not live up to our expectations. Despite the fact that the consultation was not as wide-ranging and accessible as we had hoped, we nevertheless mobilized our members and supporters to participate in order to make our priorities heard.
Thank you to all those who took part in order to share their priorities with the government - to let them know that we want our energy future to be carbon neutral, equitable and respectful of the environment.
We're closely monitoring the government's and Hydro-Québec's announcements this fall to keep up the pressure and assert our vision for Quebec’s energy future: one of sobriety, efficiency and affordability. Équiterre will continue to encourage the government to change course - to follow an alternative route to the one we're currently on.
Our impact
- 4,000
Nearly 4,000 messages sent to the consultation through our website
- 450
Over 450 participants at our 12 city tour of Quebec to discuss our energy future
- 4
4 online sessions held to help citizens complete the official consultation form
- 200 More than 200 consultation forms were completed through these sessions
Our vision
Quebec is at a crossroads for the energy transition. To move away from fossil fuels as quickly as possible, we must go much further than simply replacing them with hydroelectricity (for which current surpluses won’t last much longer).
Rather than opting for the easy (though ill-adapted to today's reality) solution of building new hydroelectric infrastructure, Équiterre is proposing a paradigm shift.
To achieve carbon neutrality before 2050, there will need to be a focus on collective energy sobriety and energy efficiency in all areas of society, to encourage the emergence of:
- more active, collective and shared mobility;
- more sustainable land use planning;
- more energy-efficient buildings;
- a more circular economy;
- a more local, environmentally responsible and healthier food system.
A successful energy transition will also reduce social inequalities, protect the environment and ensure that electricity remains affordable to all Quebecers.
Our government recommendations
Équiterre is calling on the government to implement this vision of a more prosperous, equitable and sustainable Quebec, truly in control of its energy.
As part of the Consultation sur l'encadrement et le développement des énergies propres au Québec, Équiterre submitted proposals that could be implemented in every sector of society.
To learn more about these proposals
Have a look at our recommendations
“ Équiterre is all for electrification, but not at any cost. Simply replacing one type of energy for another won’t work. The energy transition must attack the root of the problem: energy overconsumption and waste. ”
Timeline
2023
November
Hydro-Québec unveils its new action plan to double Quebec's energy capacity by 2050.
August
End of the government's public consultation on Quebec's energy future.
July
Équiterre offered webinars to help citizens fill out the official consultation form.
Équiterre submitted its brief to the consultation.
June
Public consultation begins
The government opened its online consultation on Quebec's energy future to citizens from June 2 to August 1.
Participation in the consultation: mobilizing citizens and experts
Équiterre encouraged Quebecers to take part in the consultation and make their voices heard by sending a pre-written email.
Start of the mobilization tour across Quebec!
Équiterre toured Quebec to screen the film "Après La Romaine" and held public discussions about Quebec's energy's future.
May
Education and mobilization on the energy transition
Équiterre held a webinar to present the key principles of our vision of a carbon-neutral, equitable and environmentally-responsible energy future for Quebec. Watch the webinar.
We encouraged our supporters to reach out to their Members of the National Assembly (MNAs) to share these key principles.
April
Denying out demands and those of over 100 environmental and citizens' groups, the government did not agree to mandate the BAPE for its consultation on Quebec's energy future. On April 26, the government announced that it would consult experts and the public, however, the format of the consultation left much to be desired. Read our joint reaction.
March
We worked to clarify the truth about our energy needs and capacities in Quebec and to bust some myths. Read our article.
In collaboration with the G15+, we reminded the government of the importance of holding a BAPE-led consultation. Read our press release.
February
Along with 100 other groups, we reiterated our request to the government to mandate the BAPE (Bureau d'audiences publiques sur l'environnement) to hold a generic consultation on Quebec's energy future. Have a look at our press release and joint letter.
January
Following our petition, we began to talk publicly about how Quebec's energy future is on the verge of a structural overhaul, in order to make people aware of the issues and the consequences. Read our open letter.
We launched a petition asking for a generic consultation by the Bureau d'audiences publiques sur l'environnement (BAPE) that was signed by 11,000 people.
2022
November
In November 2022, the Premier stated the intention to invite Quebecers to a "real societal debate" on our energy, and announced the possibility of a public consultation on Quebec's energy future in the spring. The consultation would be led by the Minister of the Economy, Innovation and Energy, Pierre Fitzgibbon.
The government must respect our public participation and environmental protection mechanisms
Frequently asked questions
Why was it important to take part in the consultation?
Without consultation, the government's decisions may not consider the opinions of experts, Indigenous communities and civil society. The decisions that will be made on this complex issue will have repercussions on the daily lives of all Quebecers: on public health, on our budgets, our environment and our communities for decades to come.
For further information, you can check the Consultation sur l'encadrement et le développement des énergies propres au Québec in French.
Why do we need to involve all stakeholders in a discussion on our energy future?
There are two competing visions regarding the future of energy in Quebec. On the one hand, many stakeholders in the environmental and social sectors feel that it is essential for the government to prioritize Quebec's decarbonization needs, before determining whether the province can afford to allocate significant energy resources to stimulating new industrial sectors. On the other hand, the government sees the potential for growth in electricity production in Quebec as an opportunity for economic and industrial development. In other words, adjusting energy production according to growth, as we have always done.
According to various experts, the government's energy calculations simply don't make sense: despite a significant increase in energy capacity, we will be unable to meet both the needs of carbon neutrality by 2050 and still promote projects focused exclusively on "economic development." Source.
History has shown that when Quebecers work together on energy issues, we are capable of great achievements. With the nationalization of Montreal Light, Heat and Power in 1944, the government of Adélard Godbout paved the way for Quebec's first energy revolution, which would later become a reality in 1962 with the "Maître chez nous" campaign of the Lesage government and René Lévesque, its Minister of Natural Resources. As a result of having extended the nationalization of electric power production to the entire province, Quebec was positioned environmentally for years to come.
What are the issues around Quebec's energy consumption and production?
- It is anticipated that Quebec will face electricity supply problems as early as 2026 due to significant growth in demand;
- Canada is the world's 5th largest per capita energy consumer at 229 GJ/capita, and Quebec follows at 225 GJ/capita. Structural energy efficiency and sobriety measures therefore represent a significant potential for reducing overall consumption;
- The development of additional energy capacity via new hydroelectric plants would have destructive impacts on biodiversity local communities, and Indigenous communities;
- The development of new capacity will increase the average cost of producing our electricity:
- The energy transition will largely involve Hydro-Québec, in which all Quebecers are shareholders;
Doesn’t Hydro-Québec have a surplus of energy?
The days of hydroelectricity surpluses in Quebec are over.
There are two main reasons:
1) The demand for electricity is increasing.
From 2019 to 2029, Hydro-Québec expects consumption to grow by 20 terawatt hours (TWh), or 12%.
2) Hydro-Québec has signed new export contracts
Hydro-Québec has signed major export contracts in recent years with the states of New York and Massachusetts. Here again, these contracts represent nearly 20 TWh.
For more information: https://ici.radio-canada.ca/no...
Why not just build more power plants to increase our capacity and support economic development?
Increasing electricity production, regardless of the type of energy (e.g. hydro, solar or wind), has socio-environmental impacts.
The cost of new electricity will be higher than the cost of our heritage pool. While it currently costs about 3 cents per kilowatthour (kWh), new supplies, including the construction of new hydroelectric plants, could cost about 11 cents on average.
But large industrial players are offered preferential rates of around 5 cents per kWh. If we’re developing new power generation capacity to attract these new players, we will be selling our hydroelectricity at a loss.
Why will Quebec's energy transition generate such a high demand for electricity?
The Chair in Energy Sector Management at HEC Montréal estimated that in 2019, almost 54% of the energy consumed in Quebec was derived from fossil fuels.
Quebec’s energy transition will cause a strong increase in demand, especially when it comes to transitioning essential sectors away from fossil fuels:
Transportation electrification
Converting building heating to electricity
Electrifying or decarbonizing industrial processes
Hydro-Québec’s current capacity is around 200 terawatt hours (TWh). According to Hydro-Québec's 2022-2026 strategic plan, the province will need more than 100 additional TWh of energy to transition these sectors to net zero emissions by 2050.
Related content
Équipe
Mobilization Manager
mebelangersouthey@equiterre.orgSee profilemebelangersouthey@equiterre.org
