The failure of Quebec to convince Volkswagen to build its first battery factory on its territory shows that the construction of a transmission line must be accelerated, argues Minister Pierre Fitzgibbon. The Parti Québécois believes that the Legault government “just ate a whole lot”.
• Read also: Quebec lost Volks due to lack of electricity
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The Minister of Economy, Innovation and Energy, Pierre Fitzgibbon, had known for a year that Volkswagen would choose Ontario to build its battery plant there.
“The discussions were short,” he said, emphasizing lip service that it was a “failure”.
“We must not forget that Ontario will be gray batteries.” Energy will be produced there from natural gas. “Yes, it’s a disappointment,” admitted the minister. “I would have liked to have Volkswagen […] Me, I’m not a magician, I’m just the Minister of Energy.
transmission lines
However, Quebec was unable to meet the requirements of the German automaker and provide it with 800 to 900 megawatts of energy, he points out.
Not that there is not enough electricity, but because there is no transmission line capable of transporting so much energy to Montreal.
“The electricity is there, somewhere in Labrador, somewhere in James Bay. The problem is to bring it to Montreal. It’s not so much to have other sources as to carry it. And, we must start upstream to say where we will transport surplus, powerful transmission lines, so that we can be ready to have projects.
Volkswagen absolutely wanted to settle in a large center, and this, from 2027.
“We told them we might connect them for 2029-2030,” said Minister Fitzgibbon. “Montreal, you have to understand, we are far from Churchill [Falls]we are far from James Bay.”
The project might have been installed in Sept-Îles, but it would have required 6,000 workers.
He did not have the “audacity” to promise this labor to Volks.
other battles
Pierre Fitzgibbon assures that “we are” ready to welcome other projects.
“You have to be patient,” he said. “We are going to organize ourselves to have other projects eventually.”
He also argues that Quebec must quickly increase its production of renewable energy sources.
“It takes more renewable energy […] Are you dams? Are you consuming less? Are you wind power, bioenergy?”
sharp criticism
The PQ member, Joël Arseneau, however, was very severe towards this “failure” of Minister Fitzgibbon to bring Volkswagen to Quebec.
“The Premier likes to compare himself to Ontario. We just ate a whole one.”
Liberal Jennifer Maccarone insisted that Minister Fiztgibbon should be this government’s “dealmaker”.
