The results of the referendum on the passage of a Hydro-Quebec line in Maine do not cool the government of François Legault, which considers that it still has all the cards in its game to achieve its electricity export objectives. The crown corporation will turn to the courts.
Since Tuesday evening, the current no longer passes between Quebec and the voters of Maine. In a referendum on Tuesday, the latter voted about 60% to block the passage of any high-voltage line in the northwestern part of the US state. Hydro-Quebec, which coveted the sector to build a major electricity export project, suddenly ran into a wall.
Although “disappointed with the result”, the Legault government believes it has various options in hand to ensure the success of its hydroelectric adventures. In the eyes of Minister Jonatan Julien, Quebec would bow to “fossil fuel lobbying” if it did not turn all the stones in order to move forward.
Authorizations
The Minister of Energy and Natural Resources takes note of the voters’ opinion, but believes he has ticked all the boxes necessary for the progress of the project.
“We obtained the authorizations, both the presidential authorizations, both those of the Department of Energy,” said the Minister of Energy and Natural Resources, Jonatan Julien, in the press scrum, Wednesday. The contractual commitment we made, the investments we made, more than 400 million … We fully intend to follow up on the project. “
Quebec is “analyzing” all of its options, including the “legal” avenues to be taken to unblock the electricity transmission project.
The contractual commitment we made, the investments we made, more than 400 million … We fully intend to follow up on the project.
“It is certain that a referendum which comes to act retroactively, we find that particular. We, legally, think we are in the right place, ”said Julien.
Proceedings in court
One thing is certain: Hydro-Québec will not wait for the government to go to court. Contacted by The duty, the state-owned company is committed to taking “the necessary actions to have its rights recognized”.
“We will certainly take legal action,” confirmed a spokesperson for Hydro-Quebec, Lynn St-Laurent.
Hydro, which recently signed a major export contract with New York, wants to transport its energy to six New England states via Maine. The twenty-year deal she made would earn her ten billion dollars.
The Hydro-Quebec connection project is at the center of François Legault’s plans to make Quebec the “green battery of North-East America”. Asked about the possibilities for Quebec to evaluate other routes – or even buried power lines – Jonatan Julien did not move an inch on Wednesday: the current project is the right one, he reiterated.
According to Lynn St-Laurent, the decision taken on Tuesday by voters in Maine is questionable because it aims to “invalidate the regulatory process” already completed by Hydro-Quebec.
The end for Legault’s “battery”?
In the morning, at the National Assembly, the spokesperson for the Liberal Party on natural resources, Pierre Arcand, deplored “sad news” for Quebec.
According to him, the result of the election undermines the export targets of the Legault government.
“Mr. Legault says he’s going to make a green battery. However, all of his projects so far except New York – Ontario and Massachusetts, among others – are in jeopardy right now, ”he said.
“The battery, well, maybe it will be less powerful,” agreed the parliamentary leader of the Parti Québécois, Joël Arseneau, a few minutes later. The elected representative of the Magdalen Islands is surprised that Quebec has not done more to ensure the future of the project, “especially when we rely almost exclusively on the export of energy to be able to say that Quebec is at the forefront of climate change ”.
Québec solidaire calls on François Legault to welcome the results of the referendum. Maine has spoken, and the Prime Minister must now do an introspection, said the co-spokesperson for the training, Gabriel Nadeau-Dubois. “We will also have to take action in Quebec to reduce our greenhouse gas emissions,” he said.
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