Caribou of Charlevoix Face Potential Significant Impact from Des Neiges Project, Warn Official Experts
In a heated controversy, Quebec's environmental experts are slamming the promoters of the Des Neiges wind project's "West Sector" for their blatant disregard of the Charlevoix caribou's fragile habitat. The poor critters, the last of their kind, are currently enclosed, and the Legault government has pledged a release plan. Sadly, five of these unfortunate creatures have perished in captivity as of late.
The Des Neiges project, a collaborative effort between Hydro-Québec, Boralex, and Énergir, consists of three sectors, all located in the same region. Two of these sectors, including the West Sector, threaten the surviving Charlevoix caribou's habitat, a region the government has vowed to protect.
A recent report by the Bureau d'audiences publiques sur l'environnement (BAPE) on the "Charlevoix sector" of the Des Neiges wind project warns of the 10 wind turbines scheduled to be constructed within the caribou habitat, suggesting they pose a high risk of extinction to this vulnerable population. The BAPE recommends moving these turbines outside the habitat, but project promoters have consistently balked at this suggestion, arguing it would jeopardize the project as a whole.
Meanwhile, the Ministry of the Environment's experts have expressed their dissatisfaction with the companies behind the West Sector. They believe the high disturbance rate of caribou habitat doesn't justify the addition of permanent disturbances, such as wind turbines, within the habitat. Scientists stress that the impacts on forest caribou spread beyond the immediate turbine radius, reaching up to 4 km.
Given the current 90% disturbance rate of the Charlevoix forest caribou habitat, the Quebec government aims to restore this region by limiting the addition of temporary and permanent disturbances, including wind turbines. Moreover, the government intends to make active restoration efforts. However, there's no known plan or timeline for the release of captive caribou.
When queried about the relocation of the 23 wind turbines intended for the caribou's habitat, Boralex, one of the project promoters, refused to confirm any plans, stating the environmental impact study evaluation is still underway, and discussions with the Ministry of the Environment will continue in the coming months.
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Sources:1. https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/montreal/des-neiges-wind-turbines-charlevoix-caribou-1.65155612. https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/montreal/caribou-charlevoix-extinction-risks-1.65403063. https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/montreal/bape-report-des-neiges-west-sector-wind-project-1.6554242
- The West Sector of the Des Neiges wind project, a collaboration between Hydro-Québec, Boralex, and Énergir, is situated in the same region and poses a threat to the Charlevoix caribou's habitat.
- The Bureau d'audiences publiques sur l'environnement (BAPE) issued a report on the "Charlevoix sector" of the Des Neiges wind project, which warns of the 10 wind turbines scheduled to be constructed within the caribou habitat, posing a high risk of extinction to this vulnerable population.
- Environmental scientists stress that the impacts on forest caribou spread beyond the immediate turbine radius, reaching up to 4 km, and argue that the high disturbance rate of the Charlevoix forest caribou habitat doesn't justify the addition of permanent disturbances, such as wind turbines, within the habitat.
- Quebec aims to restore the Charlevoix forest caribou habitat by limiting the addition of temporary and permanent disturbances, including wind turbines, given the current 90% disturbance rate.
- Despite ongoing discussions with the Ministry of the Environment, Boralex, one of the project promoters, has not confirmed any plans for the relocation of the 23 wind turbines intended for the caribou's habitat.
- Renewable energy projects and climate-change policies, such as the charibou habitat preservation, are essential components of environmental-science, policy-and-legislation, and business discussions across the industry and finance sectors, often intertwined with general-news and politics.
