Québec hydropower: development that respects local communities and the environment

Hydro-Québec applies the principles of sustainable development to all phases of its projects, from planning to construction and operation. No hydropower project gets the green light unless it is profitable under market conditions, environmentally acceptable and favorably received by local communities.

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Reservoir and spillway of the Robert-Bourassa development in the La Grande complex

Energy now and for future generations

Electricity is an essential service that has a direct impact on our quality of life. Hydro-Québec has a mission to build the generating capacity needed to meet present-day power requirements while preserving the natural heritage and energy prospects of future generations.

Hydro-Québec has been active in environmental protection for 40 years and is a pioneer in this field. The company does everything it can to mitigate the impact of its facilities throughout their life cycle and to preserve the uses of the land affected by its operations.

In 1970, Hydro-Québec created large teams of specialists to protect and enhance the environment in the planning, construction and operation phases of hydropower projects. Since then, the company has conducted many field studies (inventories, impact assessments and environmental follow-ups), some of which are world milestones owing to their unprecedented scale. This research not only has added considerably to the knowledge of Québec’s human and biophysical environments, but also serves to improve each new project. The ongoing dialogue between Hydro-Québec and the communities that host its projects is an example.

In 2007, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) designated Manicouagan-Uapishka, in the Côte-Nord region, as a world biosphere reserve because of the area’s sustainability achievements. This vast area encompasses 10 hydroelectric generating stations operated by Hydro-Québec.