Jean D’Amour, Minister responsible for the Bas-Saint-Laurent and the Gaspésie–Îles-de-la-Madeleine Regions and Minister for Transport and the Implementation of the Maritime Strategy, stated that “wind power is undoubtedly an industry with a positive impact on the Bas-Saint-Laurent and the Gaspésie-Îles-de-la-Madeleine regions. The manufacturing industry and goods and services related to the wind power sector have significantly driven job creation in both regions. I’m delighted to take part today in the completion of this promising project for the Témiscouata region.”
“The Témiscouata Wind Farms will have a significant economic impact on the Témiscouata region and benefit our community over the next 20 years. Témiscouata RCM is very proud to inaugurate the community wind farm alongside its partner Boralex. The project created hundreds of jobs during construction, not to mention the jobs for the operating phase!” said Témiscouata RCM Warden Guylaine Sirois.
Boralex President and CEO Patrick Lemaire “congratulated the team for their impeccable job in delivering the project on-time while maintaining an excellent occupational health and safety record onsite.” He also stressed the “welcome and support of the Témiscouata community and the exceptional cooperation from its partner, Témiscouata RCM.”
Key facts about the Témiscouata Wind Farms:
- Over 225,000 hours of work to date for the realization of Témiscouata I and II.
- $65 million and $130 million in investments to complete Témiscouata I and Témiscouata II, respectively, 60% was spent in Québec and $25 million of direct economic benefits to date in the Bas-Saint-Laurent, of which $7 million in Témiscouata region.
- An average of 200 workers involved in construction in 2014, 40% of whom live in the Bas?Saint?Laurent and Témiscouata region.
- Creation of 6 to 8 operating jobs at the Témiscouata Wind Farms.
- More than 30 local businesses in the Bas-Saint-Laurent and Témiscouata region took part in the construction.
Work on the Témiscouata II wind farm, with a capacity of 51.7 MW, will resume in spring, at which time the components will be delivered and the wind turbines will be erected. Commissioning of the additional megawatts is slated for December 2015.
The Témiscouata wind farms, with a total contracted capacity of 75.2 MW, consist of the 23.5 MW community wind farm (Témiscouata I), a partnership project between Témiscouata RCM and Boralex, commissioned in December 2014, and the 51.7 MW Témiscouata II wind power project, to be commissioned in late 2015.
The Témiscouata regional county municipality (“RCM”) is an organization that oversees land development, town planning, environmental protection, and regional, cultural, social and community development. Chaired by an elected reeve, the RCM council is composed of the mayors of the 19 municipalities in its territory. Through political action, the RCM provides leadership on behalf of its citizens. In addition to addressing the physical organization of its territory, the RCM is involved in a number of local and regional development issues that have a direct impact on the well-being and quality of life of its communities.
