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Improving Quality of Life

Helping Manage the Land and Its Resources
   
In all regions of Québec, the company's operations involve the construction and maintenance of major infrastructures: transmission lines, dikes and dams, etc. To enable the public to benefit from its installations, Hydro-Québec promotes access to its properties and facilities for secondary uses (agriculture, recreational and outdoor activities, etc.), provided these are compatible with the company's operations.
 
We also prevent conflicts of use between the operation of our facilities and various types of land use, while promoting compatibility of uses and cooperation among users. As well, we manage nuisances related to the presence and operation of our facilities, such as noise and lights.
 
We take part in reviewing the development plans of regional county municipalities (RCMs) and urban communities in Québec.

Hydro-Québec's municipal stakeholders Web site [In French only]
 
Some Examples
 

Secondary Uses and Managing Conflicts of Use

We reached an agreement in principle with the village of Price, whereby the wastewater treatment plant planned for the village will be built on Hydro-Québec land between the Mitis-1 and Mitis-2 developments.
We created a cross-country ski trail on land around La Gabelle generating station.
We built a visitor centre for users of the Récré-eau des Quinze trails near the Rapides-des-Quinze hydroelectric development.
A multifunctional crossing was built across Lumsden dam for recreational activities like cycling and snowmobiling.
Parking areas at several of our administrative buildings are made available for various community uses, such as for the Fédération motocycliste du Québec inc. benefit exhibition for Sainte-Justine University Hospital, a starting point for the Club cycliste Espoirs de Laval bicycle excursion, and the international balloon festival in Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu.


Nuisance Management

We adopted an action plan to reduce nuisances caused by the presence of emergency generators in urban environments (noise, atmospheric emissions, footprint). The plan includes analysis of generator types available and methods of use.
We implemented measures to reduce noise at La Gabelle generating station following complaints by residents. The outdoor alarm sirens will be turned off every day from 7 p.m. to 7 a.m.
New equipment was installed at Notre-Dame-du-Laus substation to reduce noise substantially.
We installed sound insulation to reduce noise at our power plant on the Îles-de-la-Madeleine.
 
 
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Link: Hydro-Québec's Home Page