Madawaska Wind Project Receives Authorization

The partners of the Madawaska Wind Project — EDF solutions électriques, the Alliance de l’énergie de l’Est and the Société de gestion éolienne de la Madawaska Inc. (a subsidiary of Hydro-Québec) — are pleased with the government authorization that formalizes the future implementation of the Madawaska Wind Project.

This step marks a major step forward and allows the final authorization and permit procedures for construction work to continue. This project represents a major investment and will generate significant economic benefits for local and regional communities, while contributing to Quebec’s energy transition.

A Structuring Project For The Region And Quebec
Madawaska will be located on public and private land, in forestry and agricultural sectors, on the territories of the municipalities of Dégelis and Saint-Jean-de-la-Lande, in the Témiscouata RCM.

The project will include 45 wind turbines with a total installed capacity of 274 MW, which will be connected to the Hydro-Québec grid.

Tangible Benefits For Communities
Our model reflects a shared vision for renewable energy development, focused on collaboration with communities and regional economic development. The project provides for annual payments to host communities of $5,700 per MW installed, indexed annually to the Consumer Price Index. For the entire fleet, this represents more than $46M , of which more than $25M will benefit the municipalities of Dégelis and Saint-Jean-de-la-Lande over the life of the project, estimated at 30 years.

The Eastern Energy Alliance, a 33% shareholder in the project, will redistribute the profits, nearly $181M over 30 years, to the 16 RCMs and the Wolastoqiyik Wahsipekuk First Nation, allowing them to invest in initiatives that benefit their communities.

Next steps
Construction work will begin in January 2026 and will continue until 2027. The project will begin delivering electricity to Hydro-Québec’s grid at the end of 2026. The project will be carried out in collaboration with local companies and suppliers. To follow the progress of the project and its updates, you can visit the official website of the Madawaska Wind Project.

The Project At A Glance

• 274 MW of installed capacity
• 45 wind turbines spread over the territory of the municipalities of Dégelis and Saint-Jean-de-la-Lande
• Equal partnership between EDF solutions électriques, Alliance de l’énergie de l’Est L.P. and Société de gestion éolienne de la Madawaska Inc. (a subsidiary of Hydro-Québec)
• $1.54M in annual firm payments to host communities in the first year and more than $46M over 30 years
• Over the life of the project, the Eastern Energy Alliance member communities will share an estimated $181M ,
• Creation of approximately 300 jobs during construction
• Creation of approximately 10 permanent jobs for maintenance in the operation phase

Citations
“The Madawaska Wind Project fully illustrates our vision of energy development that works for communities. We are proud to carry out a sustainable project that combines energy performance and respect for the environment. The official authorization of the Madawaska Wind Project will generate profits for several decades to come. It confirms EDF solutions électriques commitment to the development of responsible energy projects. ” — Stephane Desdunes, Vice-President Development, Canada and Northeastern United States, EDF solutions électriques

“The authorization of the Madawaska Wind Farm marks an important step in the deployment of new renewable energy production capacity in Québec. The green light for the project marks a long-awaited milestone for the communities we represent and will benefit the citizens of the region for decades to come.” I am also very proud to see an unparalleled collaboration between the Alliance, EDF solutions électriques and Hydro-Québec to make this project an environmental, social and economic success.” — Michel Lagacé, President, Eastern Energy Alliance

“The Madawaska Wind Farm is at the heart of the orientations of the 2035 Action Plan — Towards a Decarbonized and Prosperous Québec, which aims to increase wind energy production to support Québec’s energy transition. Hydro-Québec is pleased to carry out this project in partnership with EDF and the Eastern Energy Alliance, in collaboration with local stakeholders, to meet the growing demand for electricity while generating sustainable economic benefits for communities, including First Nations. ” — Mathieu Johnson, Senior Vice-President — Partnerships and Development, Hydro-Québec