Hydro-Québec: The agreement with Kahnawake made the difference

Without being conclusive, the historic partnership struck last summer with the Mohawk community of Kahnawake, Monterey, likely contributed to Hydro-Québec’s acquisition of New York City’s major electricity supply contract.

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According to our information, the State of New York, which is responsible for the call for proposals to which the Crown has responded, has paid special attention to the social acceptance of the projects received.

A source close to the file said: “I don’t have the exact details of the outcome. But there is no doubt that this element of understanding with Aboriginal people weighs in the balance.”

Évalué à 20 milliards par le premier ministre, ce contrat d’exportation – le plus important jamais décroché lundi par Hydro-Québec – consiste en la livraison de 10.4 TWh d’électricité par an à New York, pour une durée de 25 years.

Ultimately, once construction and commissioning are completed by the end of 2025, it is estimated that 20% of the total electricity consumed by New Yorkers per year will come from Quebec.

Details have yet to be finalized

If Hydro-Québec has so far been cautious about the revenue and benefits it intends to derive from this large-scale project, it has not hesitated to call upon its partnership, which dates back to last June, with the Mohawks Board of Kahnawà: ke.

This agreement between the Mohawks and Hydro-Quebec remained, unnoticed until then, that if the New York State contract was awarded, Kahnawake would become a minority co-owner of the transmission line to be built in Quebec up to the border. American.

Hydro-Quebec CEO Sophie Brochu spoke yesterday with Senior Chef Kahsennhawe Sky-Deer, in Kahnawake.

Hydro Council and Kahnawake refuse to disclose specific elements of this agreement, arguing that details have not yet been finalized. “We are still in negotiations, Chef Mike DeLilly, Jr. admitted. But I am optimistic that we can come to an agreement.”

Granted Land

The 60 km underground transmission line, which will be built between the Hertle sub-station in La Prairie, and the Canada-US border, will in no way encroach on the lands of the indigenous Kahnawake community.

However, it would partially cross the ancestral lands, three times its size, known as the Seigneurie de Sault-Saint-Louis, which was granted in 1680. With an area of ​​approximately 24,000 acres (97.12 km2), this area corresponds today, as well as indigenous lands in Kahnawake, to the municipalities of Saint-Constant, Sainte-Catherine and Delson, as well as part of Candiac, Saint-Philippe and Saint-Mathieu.

What share of the Mohawk will retain in the transportation infrastructure to be built in the coming years remains a mystery. But according to our information, the latter will be about “10-20%”, which makes the community a full partner in the project.

real business partnership

We are not talking about compensation here. They will contribute equally to the cost of setting up the line and to the profits of its operation. It’s a true business partnership, says Hydro’s director of communications, Serge Abergel.

In this capacity, as Business Partner, Sophie Brochu, CEO of Hydro, went to Kahnawake. This meeting, which had been planned for a long time, was above all an opportunity for the CEO – under the circumstances – to express her satisfaction with the conduct of the first commercial partnership with the community.

“We were all impressed by his attitude,” Chef DeLilly said after the meeting. His listening, frankness, and way of interacting with us on an equal footing only bodes well for the future.”

With Olivier Burke

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