THE BAPE REPORT IS NOW PUBLIC

Québec, April 17, 2007  – At the request of Mr. Claude Béchard, Minister of Sustainable Development, Environment and Parks, the Bureau d’audiences publiques sur l’environnement (BAPE) is today making public its examination and public hearing report on the Projet de parc éolien à Carleton-sur-Mer par Cartier énergie éolienne inc. This examination and public hearing mandate began on October 16, 2006. The commission in charge of examining the project was chaired by Mr. Joseph Zayed.

The commission finds that the project, which results from the initial call for tenders of Hydro-Québec , would meet the requirements in terms of regional economic spin-offs. Indeed, the effect of this project would be to invest 61% of the total cost of the project, namely a sum of 104 million dollars, in the Gaspésie region and in the RCM of Matane during the construction period.

The commission also finds that 7 of the 73 planned wind turbines would present a problem from an acceptability standpoint for the residents of the only inhabited area of the wind farm domain. Due to the local relief, the visual impact of any wind turbine erected within the visual perimeter of Lac Sansfaçon would be major for these residents. To eliminate this impact, the commission is of the opinion that it would be necessary to erect these wind turbines at other suitable sites within the wind farm.

The commission finds that there has not been a comprehensive and integrated analysis of the Carleton-sur-Mer wind farm project since the 250 kV power line required to connect the wind farm to the Hydro-Québec network was not evaluated in the impact study. The commission considers that such a power line is an integral component of the project and urges the government to ensure the future inclusion of all wind farm project components in one and the same environmental assessment procedure. For this project, it will be up to the authorities in question to make sure that the possibilities of alternative routes have been fully documented, discussed and evaluated prior to the possible authorization of the planned line. Moreover, it is important for the commission that Cartier énergie éolienne inc. and Hydro-Québec jointly determine the optimum location of the transformer station by way of an analysis that integrates both the wind farm and its connection line.

Availability of the report  

The examination and public hearing report on the Projet de parc éolien à Carleton-sur-Mer par Cartier énergie éolienne inc. is now available. You can consult it at the BAPE documentation centres, at the consultation centres opened in the community as well as on the web site of the BAPE at the following address: www.bape.gouv.qc.ca. You can also request the report at the office of the BAPE, either by sending an e-mail to communication@bape.gouv.qc.ca, or by dialing 418 643-7447 or toll-free 1 800 463-4732.

It should be recalled that the commission held in Carleton-sur-Mer three public sessions during the first part of the public hearing and one session during the second part. It received 21 briefs and 2 oral representations from individuals, groups and municipalities interested in this project.

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Source: Danielle Hawey
Communications Advisor
418 643-7447 or 1 800 463-4732, extension 533