Three opinions are given by the Bureau d’audience publique sur l’environnement to the government of Quebec on the Mesgi’g Ugju’s’n 2 wind farm project, in partnership between the Mi’gmawei Mawiomi Business Corporation and Innergex renewable energy.
The BAPE first proposes to the Ministry of the Environment to carry out scientific monitoring on the effects of noise from wind farms on terrestrial fauna, including those of infrasound to assess the undesirable effects on the fauna frequenting the planned park.
Given the precariousness of resident bat populations and the sensitivity of migratory bats to wind development, the ministry should require the application of its restriction measure to the wind farm.
Furthermore, the BAPE suggests that the ministry, in collaboration with Recyc-Québec and wind turbine manufacturers in Quebec, should establish requirements concerning the materials used in the manufacturing of wind turbine blades with the aim of favoring a model based on circular economy when these blades reach the end of their useful life.
The proposed park would include up to 24 wind turbines with a total capacity of 102.24 megawatts.
The initiator of the project would install these wind turbines on the outskirts of an already existing wind farm, Mesgi’g Ugju’s’n, on public land in the unorganized territory of Rivière-Nouvelle.
The developer wants the wind farm to be commissioned by December 2026 at the latest and plans to operate it for 30 years.
The cost of carrying out the project is estimated at $250 million.
The share of net profits from the operation of the MU2 wind farm recovered by the MMBC would be distributed between the three Mi’gmaq communities of Gaspésie.
The MRC d’Avignon would receive an annual royalty of $5,700 per megawatt and an amount of $500 per megawatt as a social commitment fund while the government of Quebec would receive an annual rent of $648,099 since the park is located on land public.
The BAPE looked into the matter after receiving a mandate for investigation and targeted consultation on the project from Minister Benoit Charette on February 13.
The minister indicated in his letter that this consultation must specifically target the issues surrounding the questions and concerns that were transmitted to him, namely the consideration of the cumulative effects on wildlife habitats, the dismantling of the wind farm and the effects of infrasound. and low frequency noises on wildlife.
