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Government announcement
26 January 2018

Minister Pierre Moreau is happy with the choice of Hydro-Québec for a historic contract


Call for proposals from Massachusetts for clean and renewable energy

QUÉBEC CITY, January 26, 2018. – The Government of Quebec is celebrating the selection of Hydro-Québec’s proposal following a call for proposals from the State of Massachusetts. The state wants to acquire a large amount of clean, renewable energy with the goal of securing its energy supply and reaching its greenhouse gas (GHG) emission reduction targets.

The Crown corporation qualified after a rigorous and competitive selection process. This will be Hydro-Québec’s most important long-term contract since it started to develop its export markets, with significant income opportunities for Quebec. As of 2020, Quebec hydroelectricity could continuously supply about a million clients at stable costs, clearly contributing to carbon reduction efforts in the Northeastern United States.

Hydro-Québec wants to increase its electricity exports, at a time when several markets have set significant GHG emission reduction targets. Since Hydro-Québec’s energy production is renewable and produces few greenhouse gasses, its exports could considerably reduce the need for polluting power plants. This is the largest proposal submission in Hydro-Québec’s history.

The call for proposals from Massachusetts followed the state’s enactment of a clean energy law highlighting the importance of hydroelectricity in its energy portfolio. This law authorizes the purchase of substantial quantities of hydroelectric energy for the first time. It also establishes a basis for collaboration between all the states in New England in view of a reasonably priced transition towards clean energy.

This announcement is the first step in a continual process, and the discussions between the State of Massachusetts and Hydro-Québec will continue in order to define the details of an eventual agreement. I’m very happy that Hydro-Québec crossed this first threshold and I am very optimistic for the future. It is a tangible demonstration of the kind of contribution that Hydro-Quebéc can make to help our American partners reach their GHG reduction goals.

– Pierre Moreau, Minister of Energy and Natural Resources and Minister responsible for the Northern Plan