Sarah Rennie – LJI reporter
Hydro Quebec has approved the Kruger Energy-backed Les Jardins wind energy project, developed in partnership with the MRC des Jardins-de-Napierville and the Mohawk Council of Kahnawà:ke (MCK). The project, which has a capacity to generate 147 megawatts, will see the construction of wind turbines in the municipalities of Saint-Patrice-de-Sherrington, Saint-Édouard, Saint-Michel, and the Township of Hemmingford.
The project was one of eight bids accepted by the public utility following a call for tenders issued last March. It will include 21 seven MW wind turbines, of which at least two will be in Hemmingford township. The turbines will stand around 130 metres tall, with a 160- to 170-metre rotor diameter. They will eventually connect with the grid via an existing transmission corridor that bridges with the Hemmingford substation. The contract for the wind farm extends over 30 years.
In a statement, Jean Roy, the senior vice president and CEO of Kruger Energy, pointed out the wind farm will generate significant economic spinoffs for local communities. Representatives for the company have said the project will create around 250 jobs during the construction phase, which is scheduled to end in December 2028, when Kruger Energy anticipates the completed wind farm will be commissioned.
Before construction can begin, the project will undergo several more consultations with regional partners and host communities, as well as numerous studies and processes, including an environmental impact assessment with the Bureau d’audiences publique sur l’environnement (BAPE) planned for 2024-2025, as well as requests for approval from the Commission de protection du territoire agricole (CPTAQ).
“The current energy transition is a vast undertaking, and all players in society must be involved in its success,” says Roy, who describes the partnership with the MRC des Jardins-de-Napierville and the MCK as an excellent model of sustainable and socially responsible development.
Kruger Energy previously partnered with the MCK on the Des Cultures Wind Farm, a 24 MW project including six turbines in the municipalities of Saint-Rémi and Saint-Michel that was completed in 2022.
“Throughout our previous projects, Kruger has demonstrated unwavering support and a deep understanding of our community’s needs, and this new partnership will allow us to foster a crucial partnership with the MRC that benefits not only our community but the broader region as well,” said Alex Beaupre, the MCK’s executive revenue officer.
Yves Boyer, the prefect of the MRC des Jardins-de-Napierville, added that the project will allow for the generation of collective wealth while contributing to sustainable development and environmental protection for the benefit of citizens and future generations.