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PRZOOM - /newswire/ -
Montréal, Québec, Canada, 2014/05/12 - Hydro-Québec is proud to present its Sustainability Report 2013 (This hyperlink will open a new window), which describes the utility’s performance with respect to its main environmental, social, economic and governance issues - HydroQuebec.ca.
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Hydro-Québec was one of the first companies in Québec to publish a sustainability report, which is now in its twelfth edition.
“Hydro-Québec’s vision of sustainability goes well beyond strictly environmental matters. It expresses the company’s desire to sustainably meet the electricity needs of the public, while acting as a significant driver of Quebec’s economy,” said Stella Leney, Senior Director Environment and Corporate Affairs at Hydro-Québec.
Some 2013 highlights
Helping to reduce greenhouse gas emissions
With hydropower accounting for over 99% of Hydro-Québec’s output, the company produces very low levels of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. According to the most recent data, the electricity sector accounts for 13% of Canada’s GHG emissions. In Québec, the electricity sector represents barely 0.7% of the province’s emissions given its abundant water resources.
Year after year, Hydro-Québec both plays a key role in the province’s economy and enables Québec to post one of the lowest greenhouse gas emission rates per capita in North America. Meanwhile, the company’s net electricity exports helped avoid close to 9 million tonnes of CO2 emissions in 2013.
Romaine complex
The development of the Romaine complex continued. Soon, a first generating station, Romaine-2, will be commissioned, adding 640 MW to Hydro-Québec’s renewable energy portfolio, while promoting substantial regional economic activity.
From 2009 to 2012, investments in the Côte-Nord economy totaled $421.5 million 33% of the $1,300 million planned for the entire construction period, which will last until 2020. In 2014, for the third year in a row, ReNew Canada magazine ranked the Romaine complex as the second-biggest infrastructure project under way in Canada.
Technological innovation
Hydro-Québec’s research institute, IREQ, is allocated some $100 million dollars per year to carry out research and innovation projects for Hydro-Québec. IREQ’s work focuses on power system reliability and long-term operability, energy efficiency, transportation electrification and emerging renewables.
With 241 charging stations (240-V and 400-V) at the end of 2013, the Electric Circuit (This hyperlink will open a new window)is the first public charging network in Canada. Hydro-Québec (hydro.qc.ca) is one of the founding members of this network, which was inaugurated in March 2012. Since then, over 50 partners have joined the Electric Circuit, expanding it into 14 administrative regions in Québec. Transportation electrification is an effective way to fight climate change in Quebec, where the transportation sector is responsible for close to 45% of GHG emissions.
Contribution to the economy
Hydro-Québec’s investments, procurement, dividends paid to the Québec government and consulting-engineering expertise make it a major driving force in the Québec economy. Every year, the spinoffs from its operations generate billions of dollars and thousands of jobs, contributing to the economic vitality of many regions of the province.
In 2013, Hydro-Québec’s contribution to Québec’s economy totaled $6.6 billion. In addition to a peak dividend of $2,207 million paid to the Québec government, the company contributed $3,370 million in goods and services procured from Québec-based companies, $669 million in water-power royalties, $245 million for the public utilities tax, $36 million in municipal and school taxes and $31 million in community investments.
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rouy.mathieu[.]hydro.qc.ca 
