Mi’gmaq wind project wraps up in Quebec

LONGUEUIL, QUE. — The three Mi’gmaq communities of Quebec and Innergex Renewable Energy Inc. have announced commissioning of the newly completed 150-megawatt Mesgi’g Ugju’s’n wind farm in Gaspesie, Que.

The project is owned by Mesgi’g Ugju’s’n Wind Farm, L.P., an entity controlled 50-50 by the three Mi’gmaq communities of Quebec — Gesgapegiag, Gespeg and Listuguj — and by Innergex, indicates the media statement released Dec. 29. Innergex was in charge of management of the construction and will be responsible for operation of the wind farm. The project is located on public lands in the Avignon Regional County Municipality of Quebec. Construction began in May 2015 and was completed within budget.

It is estimated that the average annual production of the Mesgi’g Ugju’s’n wind farm will reach 562,500 megawatt-hours, enough to power about 30,000 Quebec households each year. In its first full year of operation, it is expected to generate revenues of close to $60 million. All of the electricity the facility will produce is covered by a 20-year fixed-price power purchase agreement with Hydro-Quebec.

The two main contractors on the build were Borea Construction and Senvion Wind Energy Solutions.

"By employing 110 workers from the Mi’gmaq community during the construction of the project, we have shown that such projects can contribute to the social and economic development of the Mi’gmaq communities," said Troy Jerome, president of the board for the Mesgi’g Ugju’s’n wind farm.

Innergex develops, owns and operates run-of-river hydroelectric facilities and wind farms in Quebec, Ontario and British Columbia.