Environment

• We educate our employees on the principles of sustainable driving. The 1.1% drop in GHG emissions from Hydro-Québec's vehicle fleet in 2010 resulted mainly from reduced light-vehicle emissions. The action plans introduced in 2010 should enable us to achieve the 2013 target. The atmospheric emission data and targets have been recalculated according to CO₂ equivalent emission factors published by Environment Canada.

• Every year, we produce a data sheet on the atmospheric emissions related to our electricity generation and purchases (excluding emissions from off-grid generating stations).
  For more information on atmospheric emissions relating to Hydro-Québec sources of supply [PDF]

Emissions avoided thanks to electricity exports

In 2010, net power sales outside Québec that replaced fossil fuel output helped avoid nearly 9 million tonnes of CO₂ emissions, the equivalent of the annual emissions produced by 2.25 million vehicles.

• We published the first summary of GHG emissions from Hydro-Québec operations.

• a) Emissions in t CO₂ only

• Sustainability Report 2010, p. 20-22
• Sustainable Development Action Plan 2009-2013, p. 7

Gentilly-2 generating station is located near major load centres and supports transmission system stability and reliability. Like all other nuclear power plants, Gentilly-2 generates no GHG emissions. It has been operating safely for over 25 years and is kept running by a staff of 750 employees.

Gentilly-2 accounts for about 5% of Canada's nuclear waste. This waste is being stored safely on the premises, where it is carefully monitored by Hydro-Québec. Studies on long-term disposal of irradiated fuel are being conducted by the federal Nuclear Waste Management Organization.

• In preparation for the refurbishment of Gentilly-2 power plant (postponed to 2012), we are analyzing the lessons learned from the refurbishment of Wolson nuclear power plant in Korea and Point Lepreau nuclear plant in New Brunswick. The refurbishment project will create about 800 jobs and generate economic spinoffs of $600 million province-wide, including $200 million in the area.
  Gentilly-2 refurbishment project
  Gentilly-2 nuclear generating station
  Understanding Electricity – Nuclear

• Sustainability Report 2010, p. 22

• In 2010, the International Year of Biodiversity, Hydro-Québec consolidated its contribution to the preservation and restoration of at-risk plant and animal species, in collaboration with various provincial restoration teams working to safeguard wildlife species designated as threatened or vulnerable.

• (T) Threatened
• (V) Vulnerable
• (LD) Likely to be so designated

• SRA: Species at Risk Act, Canada
• ACDW: Act respecting the conservation and development of wildlife, Québec
• ATVS: Act respecting threatened or vulnerable species, Québec)
• MBCA: Migratory Birds Convention Act, 1994, Canada

• We participated in the project "Towards Biodiversity Assessments for Business," in partnership with several organizations such as the Québec Centre for Biodiversity Science and the Conseil patronal de l'environnement du Québec (CPEQ). The project has two phases. The first is a preliminary phase which will consist of developing evaluation criteria for a biodiversity assessment adapted to the Québec context, as well as a simultaneous, coordinated approach for conducting these self-assessments.

• We contributed to the Ecosystem Status and Trends Report (ESTR), organized by Environment Canada. The ESTR publishes detailed scientific information in order to help decision makers set priorities and to promote a dialogue on the importance of healthy ecosystems. The report was published in 2010.
  Ecosystem Status and Trends 2010

• Distribution lines and biodiversity: The Canadian Business and Biodiversity Case Studies Compendium (Volume 1, 2010) cites measures used by Hydro-Québec to conserve biodiversity along distribution lines as examples of biodiversity best practices by Canadian companies.
  http://www.businessbiodiversity.ca/documents/CBBP-CaseStudies.pdf

• Seven biodiversity protection measures were developed for land clearing related to vegetation control in the distribution system: selective clearing, snag preservation, management of merchantable timber, debris windrowing, debris scattering, debris mixing and debris chipping.

• Sustainability Report 2010, p. 24-25
• Sustainable Development Action Plan 2009-2013, p. 11
• Generating Stations under Construction ("Environment" heading)

• To ensure that its transmission and distribution systems are reliable and safe, Hydro-Québec must control the vegetation in line rights-of-way. We continued a program to enhance our understanding of how the vegetation in line rights-of-way changes after clearing, rehabilitation and seeding with compatible plant species. The follow-up shows that using selected seed mixes significantly reduces invasion by incompatible species, as does treating stumps with herbicides. The latter procedure also fosters the growth of compatible species in the right-of-way.
  Vegetation, safety and power lines

• Sustainability Report 2010, p. 23
• Sustainable Development Action Plan 2009–2013, p. 11

• Hydro-Québec has an emergency response plan for accidental contaminant spills to limit the extent and severity of environmental damage. In 2010, 746 spills were reported to the authorities, compared to 529 in 2009. The rise in reported spills is explained by increased awareness and closer monitoring by contractors on construction sites.

• Sustainability Report 2010, p. 24

• We signed 200 contracts for public or private use of Hydro-Québec facilities: construction of roads or water and sewer mains, development of public parks and park-and-ride lots for public transport, and other residential and commercial projects.

• The Grande-Vallée–Montagne–Sèche-L'Anse-à-Valleau line was built inland to preserve the scenic corridor along Highway 132 and protect private properties along the Golfe du Saint-Laurent [Gulf of St. Lawrence].

• As part of the program to enhance public thoroughfares, 800 m of the distribution grid in Gatineau (Outaouais) and 430 m in Pointe-Claire (Montréal) were buried underground.
  Better Living in Neighborhoods with Underground Lines

• Municipal and Regional Affairs - Land use (available in French only)
• Sustainability Report 2010, p. 22-23, 31

• Hydro-Québec earned BOMA BESt certification for 15 administrative buildings. BOMA assesses the environmental and energy performance of commercial buildings according to specific criteria. Hydro-Québec's head office received BOMA BESt certification in 2009.

• The Joliette motor vehicle repair shop was awarded Silver Level CLà VERTE environmental certification. This certification by Nature-Action Québec recognizes auto shops that fulfill criteria based on environmental best practices and exceed the legal and regulatory requirements for management of residual materials, processes and equipment.

• We installed on/off switches in all bucket trucks delivered in 2010, enabling employees to cut the engine right from the bucket, as long as it is stationary. This measure reduces GHG emissions as well as engine noise, and is much appreciated by workers.

• Residual hazardous materials (RHMs) are processed according to 4R-D program criteria (reduction at the source, reuse, recycling, reclamation, then disposal). In 2010, we diverted 95% of RHMs from landfill.

• In 2010, 91% (88% in 2009) of the insulating oil used in some types of equipment, such as power transformers, was reclaimed for internal reuse.

• Sustainability Report 2010, p. 26

• An inventory of 41 transmission substations was compiled, in conjunction with the Université de Montréal's Canada Research Chair on Built Heritage, to determine their heritage value.

• An archaeological inventory conducted along 90 km of the future line that will connect the villages of Natashquan and La Romaine uncovered 14 archaeological sites. The discovery of several sites at very high altitudes indicates that occupation may go back more than 8,000 years.

• For more information on heritage at Hydro-Québec
• Sustainability Report 2010, p. 24