Environmental board approves billion-dollar Hydro-Quebec project

The dam on the Peribonka River in the Lac-St-Jean region is justified, the board said in its decision. "It will contribute to giving a margin of manoeuvre to Hydro-Quebec to respond to the demand for electricity in Quebec on the horizon for 2008 and to take the opportunity for business in exterior markets," the board said.

Cost of the project would be more than $1 billion.

The board acknowledged the loss of 362 hectares of wetlands but said there would be compensation for that.

The project, which would begin construction this year and be completed in 2008, would consist of a dam 80 metres high and 690 metres long. A 31.6-square-kilometre reservoir would be created.