Quebec Asks Newfoundland To Sign Hydro Deal
QUEBEC CITY -- - Quebec Premier Bernard Landry urged Newfoundland to give the green light to a massive C$5 billion ($3.2 billion) hydro-electric project in Labrador.
The 2,200 megawatt Gull Island project -- an extension of Labrador's huge Churchill Falls hydro project in Canada's northeast -- was put on hold last week as opposition to the deal grew in Newfoundland.
An agreement between the two provinces was expected to be signed before Christmas but Newfoundland Premier Roger Grimes said this week it was unlikely.
Quebec's Landry urged Newfoundland on Wednesday "to grasp this amazing opportunity to quickly launch construction."
Newfoundland, still seething over a long-term contract that gives Hydro-Quebec low-cost power from Churchill Falls, is wondering whether this deal will be any better.
Virtually all the electricity produced at Gull Island would be sold to Hydro-Quebec, one of North America's biggest utilities, with recall rights held by Newfoundland.
Newfoundland has argued it should be paid much more for the power generated by Churchill Falls, but Quebec has rejected that idea. The issue has remained a bitter division between the neighboring provinces and made any new deal between them an uphill battle.
Quebec still hopes a deal can be reached in 2003.
Related News
Wasteful air conditioning adds $200 to summer energy bills, reveals BC Hydro
VANCOUVER - BC Hydro is scolding British Columbians for their ineffective, wasteful and costly use of home air conditioners.
In what the electric utility calls “not-so-savvy” behaviour, it says many people are over-spending on air conditioning units that are poorly installed or used incorrectly.
"The majority of British Columbians will spend more time at home this summer because of the COVID-19 pandemic," BC Hydro says in a news release about an August survey of customers.
"With A/C use on the rise, there is evidence British Columbians are not cooling down efficiently, leading to higher summer electricity bills."
BC Hydro estimates…
