A Major New Agreement for Energy Development in Eastern Quebec
November 25, 2025
The Premier of Québec, François Legault, the Grand Chief of the Wolastoqiyik Wahsipekuk First Nation, Jacques Tremblay, the President of the Eastern Energy Alliance, Michel Lagacé, and the President and CEO of Hydro-Québec, Claudine Bouchard, announced the signing of a partnership between the Eastern Energy Alliance and Hydro-Québec for the development of the territory encompassing the RCMs of Montmagny, L’Islet, Kamouraska, Rivière-du-Loup and Témiscouata. This territory could accommodate facilities intended to produce up to 1,500 MW over the next few years.
The agreement, called Wetsok – which means “in the direction of the wind” in the Wolastoqey language – will generate significant economic benefits through wind development for the communities of Eastern Quebec and for the Wolastoqiyik Wahsipekuk First Nation. In concrete terms, it represents investments of up to $4.5 billion in the targeted regions and ancestral territories, which will allow for job creation, workforce training and the diversification of revenues for communities and municipalities.
This signing demonstrates a shared commitment to structured, sustainable wind development adapted to the regional realities of Eastern Quebec, in partnership with Indigenous and local communities. The agreement provides for an equal partnership between Hydro-Québec and the Alliance de l’énergie de l’Est for the eventual wind projects that will result from it.
Next steps
The partners will immediately assess the social acceptability of wind energy development in the targeted territory. Consultations will be held with local partners to better understand the realities of the community in order to ensure a harmonious and responsible integration of potential projects. Aware of the cumulative effects of wind development, the partners will adopt a structured approach aimed at ensuring responsible growth of the sector while taking into account the evolution of the transmission network.
This partnership is part of the government’s and Hydro-Québec’s strategy to develop more than 10,000 MW of new wind capacity, in collaboration with First Nations and municipalities. The Government of Quebec and Hydro-Québec want to double the production of green electricity in Quebec by 2050 to meet the additional needs and demand of companies that want to decarbonize. In the current context, Québec has a golden opportunity to develop its economy and become a true North American power in renewable energy.
Status of the Wocawson and Gespe’gewa’gi Agreements
Unveiled in 2024, the Wocawson Zone wind development project is the first initiative to come out of partnerships between Hydro-Québec and the Eastern Energy Alliance. Over the past year, pre-consultations have been held with land users and environmental organizations to allow partners to better understand local realities. Following these consultations, a public event will be organized in mid-December to present to the public the targeted study area for the development of potential wind projects. Details of this activity will be communicated shortly.
Finally, the agreement announced in August 2025 for the wind development of the Gespe’gewa’gi territory, concluded in partnership with the Mi’gmaq Nation, the Eastern Energy Alliance and Hydro-Québec, is also continuing. The partners are planning the next steps to ensure responsible development on the territory, in accordance with the expectations of the community and the local environment.
Highlights:
- This new step in wind development planning targets the territory encompassing the RCMs of Montmagny, L’Islet, Kamouraska, Rivière-du-Loup and Témiscouata, located in the Chaudière-Appalaches and Bas-Saint-Laurent regions, which includes the Wolastoqjyik’s ancestral territory, the Wolastokuk.
- The agreement also includes the Wolastoqiyik Wahsipekuk First Nation as a member of the Eastern Energy Alliance, in addition to the 209 communities that make up the Alliance and are spread over 16 RCMs – from Montmagny to the Magdalen Islands.
- The overall vision provided by the Wocawson, Gespe’gewa’gi and now Wetsok agreements is to better structure and plan energy development in Eastern Quebec in a coherent manner.
