Natural gas in Bellechasse: Now serving a new region
January 26, 2017 - Press releases
The realization of a promising project called for by local players
Saint-Anselme, January 26, 2017 – Joël Lightbound, Member of Parliament for Louis Hébert in the House of Commons, on behalf of the Honourable Navdeep Bains, Minister of Innovation, Science and Economic Development and Minister responsible for CED, the Honourable Navdeep Bains; Pierre Arcand, Minister of Energy and Natural Resources and Minister responsible for the Plan Nord and Minister responsible for the Côte-Nord region; Dominique Vien, MNA for Bellechasse, Minister responsible of Labour and Minister responsible for the Chaudière-Appalaches region; Hervé Blais, Warden of the MRC de Bellechasse and Frédéric Krikorian, Director, Sustainable Development, and Public and Governmental Affairs at Gaz Métro, today inaugurated the extension of the natural gas network into the Bellechasse region.
This 72-km network extension, valued at around $42 million, has been made possible largely due to maximum financial contributions of $17.5 million each from CED and from the Québec government. This investment will be used to connect nearly 100 buildings in the Sainte-Claire, Saint-Anselme, Saint-Henri and Lévis (Pintendre) municipalities to natural gas, making conversion to a carbon-lean energy source possible.
“Economic growth is a priority for the Canadian government. The addition of a gas network should promote new investment in the region and lead to greater job creation for the middle class,” highlighted the Honourable Navdeep Bains, Minister of Innovation, Science and Economic Development and Minister responsible for CED.
“Our government is proud to have contributed to this major project for the region. Offering these companies better access to natural gas, a cleaner energy source than fuel oil, will open the way to investing in energy efficiency improvements and reducing their carbon footprint. This investment is right in line with several of the targets contained in the 2030 Energy Policy,” explained Minister of Energy and Natural Resources and Minister responsible for the Plan Nord and Minister responsible for the Côte-Nord region, Pierre Arcand.
“D-Day is finally here. After collaboration by the community, from the mayors, businesspeople, the Coalition pour le gaz naturel dans Bellechasse, and two levels of government, Bellechasse is inaugurating its gas network. This new section of the distribution network will foster the economic development of Bellechasse, in addition to attracting new investments and new companies. I am proud of this teamwork and would like to thank everyone who participated in this major project for our region,” added Dominique Vien, Minister responsible for Labour, Minister responsible for the Chaudière-Appalaches region and Member for Bellechasse.
“In addition to having access to one of the cleanest energy sources, our companies finally have access to an energy source that will decrease their production costs, making them more competitive. Moreover, our companies are now on an equal footing with companies from other Québec regions,” said Hervé Blais, Warden of the MRC de Bellechasse.
“A project of this scope can only be carried out with the top-notch contribution of local and government partners who have an economic and environmental vision for their region, such as here in Bellechasse. I would like to underscore the engagement of many regional players, who committed themselves to making this happen and thus improve their footprint significantly. Annually, Bellechasse will save $2.5 million in energy costs, in addition to reducing its GHG emissions by 8,600 tonnes—the equivalent of about 2,050 cars on the road,” said Gaz Métro’s Frédéric Krikorian.
Related links
For more information about the QEDP:
www.dec-ced.gc.ca/eng/agency/programs/qedp/index.html
About Gaz Métro
With more than $7 billion in assets, Gaz Métro is a leading energy provider. It is the largest natural gas distribution company in Québec, where its network of over 10,000 km of underground pipelines serves more than 300 municipalities and more than 200,000 customers. Gaz Métro is also present in Vermont, where it has more than 310,000 customers. There, it operates in the electricity production market and the electricity and natural gas distribution market. Gaz Métro is actively involved in developing and operating innovative, promising energy projects, including natural gas as fuel, liquefied natural gas as a replacement for higher emission-producing energies, the production of wind power and the development of biomethane. Gaz Métro is a major energy sector player that takes the lead in responding to the needs of its customers, regions and municipalities, local organizations, and communities while also satisfying the expectations of its Partners (GMi and Valener) and employees.
Information:
Media Relations
Canada Economic Development for Quebec Regions
Tel.: 514-283-8818
[email protected]
Véronique Normandin
Press Attaché
Office of the Minister of Energy and Natural Resources, Minister responsible for the Northern Plan
Tel.: 418 643-7295
Florent Tanlet
Press Attaché
Office of the Minister responsible for the Chaudière-Appalaches region
Tel.: 418 265-1982
Catherine Houde
Media and Public Relations
Gaz Métro
Tel.: 514 598-3449
[email protected]