Regroupement vigilance énergie Québec : democratic participation in wind energy

Regroupement vigilance énergie Québec (RVEQ), a coalition of 25 citizen groups, is spearheading a project to bring attention to and properly democratise the current increase in wind energy projects happening across Québec. In 2024, Hydro-Québec began involving itself in wind energy across the province, previously the purview of private companies exclusively (Stéphane Bordeleau pour Radio-Canada, 30 mai 2024). Thanks to its existing capacity, Hydro-Québec intends to add 10 000 megawatts of capacity to the electrical grid before 2035. However, wind farms in Québec have yet to undergo a comprehensive environmental assessment or public environmental hearing (Bureau d’audience publique sur l’environnement), and the increase in wind farms in the Saint-Lawrence Valley could lead to the sacrifice or valuable carbon stores in the forms of forests and wetlands, increases in electricity prices across Québec, and loss of valuable fertile land for agriculture. RVEQ seeks to conduct legal research into how local communities can organize across the province and ensure that wind energy is progressing justly and with long-term sustainability in mind.

Updates:

As of January 5th, 2026, RVEQ surpassed their fundraising goal with a total of $ 11 622 raised! Their legal cabinet has been hired and the research into ways to legally oppose the current wind energy process will begin in February.

Read more on their website here: RVEQ Éoliennes