KEY DATES FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE PROJECT:
2007
The Agglomeration of the Magdalen Islands creates a Consultative Commission on Wind Development and conducts a public consultation. The commission will submit its report in March of the same year;
2010
The Municipality of the Magdalen Islands creates the industrial allocation linked to the production of wind energy;
Creation of the Intermunicipal Energy Board of Gaspésie and the Magdalen Islands, of which the Agglomeration of the Islands is one of the founding members.
2012
The Municipality designates the Dune-du-Nord sector as an industrial zone linked to the production of wind energy;
2013
The Municipality orders a report from the Dunsky firm on the Energy Balance of the Magdalen Islands; this report will serve as a basis for reflection on the future energy strategy;
2015
In October, the call for proposals A/P 2005-01 was published by Hydro-Québec in order to select a private partner who would share equal ownership of the project with the Intermunicipal Authority, in order to ensure its development on the Dune-du-Nord site;
2016
The Maritime Community is conducting a consultation for the adoption of a territorial energy strategy;
The Intermunicipal Authority is continuing its environmental characterization studies in order to properly document the environmental issues of Dune-du-Nord;
2017
The Bureau d’audiences publiques sur l’environnement is conducting a public consultation on issues concerning the Dune-du-Nord plant habitat. The BAPE will submit its report in July. The MELCC authorizes the Intermunicipal Board to continue its project development efforts provided that the impacts on the Conrad’s corema plant habitat remain consistent with the scenarios submitted during the consultation;
The maritime community adopts the first territorial energy strategy on the scale of an MRC, which highlights the importance of reducing the environmental footprint of the Islands by promoting the development of renewable energies;
In October, three bidders submitted five proposals to Hydro-Québec for the installation of a wind farm on the Dune-du-Nord site;
2018
In March, Hydro-Québec announced that the proposal from Plan A Infrastructure and Valeco Énergie Québec had been accepted, and the latter set up the Dune-du-Nord Wind Farm limited partnership with the Gaspésie and Magdalen Islands Intermunicipal Energy Board.
In June, Dune-du-Nord Wind Farm SEC signed the electricity supply contract and a connection agreement with Hydro-Québec. The Electricity Purchase Agreement was validated by the Régie de l’Energie du Québec.
In August, the Ministry of the Environment and the Fight against Climate Change considered that it could favorably recommend the installation of a wind farm in the Dune-du-Nord flora habitat if the installation scenario as submitted during the BAPE consultations is respected.
2019
In June, issuance of decree 611-2019 issuing an authorization to Dune-du-Nord Wind Farm and in July, Authorization under chapter 22 of the Environmental Quality Act, obtaining a public utility permit.
In September, the first phase of work begins with the preparation of the site, the development of roads and work areas and the construction of foundations.
2020
In May, the second phase of work begins, installing the substation and connection infrastructure.
In September, the wind turbines were delivered to the Magdalen Islands and will be installed on the site during the fall.
In December the wind farm is put into service and wind energy deliveries begin.
2023
Acquisition of the company Valeco Énergie Québec by the joint venture Nutrinor-Gilbert Énergies renouvelables. The latter is now involved in the operation and development of the wind farm.