In the Islands-de-la-Madeleine, a high voltage cable

The power station is one of the 22 autonomous Hydro-Québec networks.It is the largest and most polluting in the province.In 2017 alone, she was responsible for 40 % of all hydro-Québec greenhouse gas emissions.

Climate change obliges, its hours are now counted.At least, its production rate will be greatly reduced by 2027, the Crown corporation having deposited in the energy management, a few days ago, a project to connect by underwater cable.

A 225 km cable would connect the Gaspésie to the archipelago, making it possible to largely supply the Islands-de-la-Madeleine with renewable energy.The solution retained would reduce the archipelago greenhouse gas emissions by 94 %.

This energy transition which takes shape in the islands-de-la-Madeleine is called upon to take place everywhere in Canada, in dozens of communities, with a view to reaching carbonutrality by 2050.A objective set by the Canadian government in order to slow down the effects of climate change.

But who says energy transition says also changes.Changes that worry Madelinots.

Jobs, especially jobs

The Mazout thermal power plant in the islands-de-la-Madeleine employs 82 people locally.

Pascal Lapierre is one of these workers.He goes to work every morning for over 20 years with the same pride.That of having a paid job with good conditions, but also to produce energy for your community.

Pascal Lapierre is chief mechanic at the thermal power plant at the Mazout des Îles-de-la-Madeleine.

Photo: Radio-Canada / Elisa Serret

Even if he retires in less than five years, before the energy transition was made, he worries about those who stay behind him.He fears to see the jobs disappear slyly over the departures, even if Hydro-Québec has promised to preserve them.

A promise based among other things on the fact that the central will remain in a minimum of 100 hours per year.A spare wheel in case of breakage, a useful asset during peak hours.

Hydro-Québec is still, if not, to determine how all the jobs will be maintained.Louis-Philippe Bérubé, project manager for the state-owned company, says that solutions like telework are now possible from the pandemic.

But all this lack of details on the part of Hydro-Québec leaves the workers, like Pascal Lapierre, perplexes.

On the archipelago, a large majority of the population works either in the fishing sector, or in tourism.Seasonal sectors.Years, well -paid jobs are rare.

In the Islands-de-la-Madeleine, a high voltage cable

Photo: Radio-Canada / Steve broken

Pascal Lapierre, father of a mechanical student, is disappointed to know that his son will probably not be able to succeed him at the central.He believes that each job well paid is a bulwark against the exodus of young people to the continent, against his son's exodus.

He is convinced that the power plant is an important economic engine for its community. Tous les emplois qu’on peut avoir localement, ici, [chacun] a son importance. Chaque emploi, affirme Pascal Lapierre.

A missed meeting

These concerns are shared by the mayor of the Ile-de-la-Madeleine, Jonathan Lapierre.The elected representative is disappointed and does not mince words when he talks about the connection of the islands by underwater cable.He thinks that Hydro-Québec lacks vision.

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However, Hydro-Québec held public consultations in the islands on the energy transition.But the mayor and other Madelinots to whom we have spoken say that the other solutions proposed by the Crown Company were unrealistic on the environmental and financial level.Leaving as the only real option the submarine cable.

Jonathan Lapierre, mayor of the Islands-de-la-Madeleine, photographed in Cap-aux-Meules.

Photo: Radio-Canada / Elisa Serret

Louis-Philippe Bérubé, project manager in Hydro-Québec, argues that the solution of the submarine cable is that which best meets four major criteria set by the Crown Company, the reliability, the environment,social acceptability and costs.

Mais le maire aurait souhaité que la société d’État propose plutôt ce qu’il appelle un bouquet énergétique, c’est-à-dire différents projets de production d’énergie verte qui auraient plutôt permis la création d’emplois.Innovative projects, such as a solar park, energy production from biomass, solutions that could have attracted young families in the Islands-de-la-Madeleine, he specifies.

Jonathan Lapierre gives as an example the Dune-du-Nord park, where two wind turbines have been erected since the start of the summer.The project has emerged thanks to a public-private partnership.On their own, they produce 10 % of the energy needs of the archipelago.

It is true that a wind farm is unlikely due to the cramped territory of the archipelago and its fragility and that Untel park, at sea, is also unlikely due to maritime traffic, the technological challenge it poses, costs and fishing industry.

The two wind turbines in the Dune-du-Nord park produce around 10 % of the energy required on the archipelago.

Photo: Radio-Canada / Steve broken

But other solutions could have been found, said the mayor.Small producer projects which, collectively, could have met the energy needs of the islands.

Jonathan Lapierre also believes that an association with the Cégep de la Gaspésie and the islands could have been beneficial by developing unique technology training to attract students and possibly keep them in the islands.

The mayor specifies that one less family can mean the closure of a school.A death announced for a small community.

The elected official sees it as great inconsistency on the part of Hydro-Québec.Because if the goal is to decarbonize, as we have to do to save the planet, he says, why opt for a solution where you will still burn fuel oil in the event of cable breakage or in rush hour?

Because with the solution chosen by Hydro-Québec, the monster will remain there, he insists.

Worried customers

Patrice Thériault is a semi-retired fisherman.For 50 years, the man saw Lady Nature go wild a little more each year.He knows that the effects of climate change threaten his islands, his native land.You have to act, he said, taking a big breath-but not too fast, he adds.

Like Patrice Thériault, half of the residents of the islands heat their house with a Mazout furnace.A solution promoted at the time by Hydro-Québec to compensate for the deficiencies of its power plant.This system is called the Energy Energy Use Program (PUEE).

Patrice Thériault photographed in Havre-aux-Maisons.

Photo: Radio-Canada / Elisa Serret

In his basement, Patrice Thériault shows us his furnace.For more than 30 years, subcontractors have come at least once a year to inspect it for free.Then, other subcontractors paid by Hydro-Québec for the propane supply.They will lose their contracts once the energy transition is made.

The fisherman is very worried about the idea that these entrepreneurs, who employ Madelinots, lose their contracts and perhaps even their companies. Ces gens-là sont au cœur de notre identité, lance-t-il.It takes local businesses that generate jobs.

Patrice is the father of two sons.One who became a fisherman in turn, the other who had to leave the islands, for lack of employment.Patrice would so much like that his son returns to live near him.But for that, tonnes of the Madelinot, it takes paid jobs.

Another consequence for Patrice Thériault: the end of this subsidized system will result in a 30 % increase in its electricity bill.He fears that this increase in invoice will be very difficult for a large part of the population who lives seasonal jobs.

Once the cable is connected, the Madelinots will pay their electricity at the same price as all Quebecers.

The energy transition in the islands of the-Madeleine is essential.And if no one is against virtue on the archipelago, everyone is for caution.