Apuiat Wind Farm Reaches Commercial Operation – Marking a New Energy Era in Quebec

Press Release

The wind project was initiated and co-developed by the Innu communities. It stands as their first national energy project and the first wind farm to be built in Québec’s Côte-Nord region. This project also symbolizes the revival of wind energy development in Québec, being the first large-scale wind project commissioned since 2018, and aligns closely with the province’s renewed energy ambitions.

The wind farm consists of 34 Vestas V162 turbines, each with a capacity of 6 MW, making them the most powerful ever commissioned in Quebec. The electricity generated by the facility is sold to Hydro-Québec under a 30-year power purchase agreement.

An official inauguration of the Apuiat Wind Farm is planned for spring 2026. This event will mark a significant milestone for the project’s partners and for the Côte-Nord region, while highlighting the park’s contribution to the evolution of Québec’s energy landscape.

Key facts and highlights

A project of many firsts: The first national energy project for the Innu and the first wind farm built in the Côte-Nord region.
Shared and lasting benefits:
- The Innu will receive their 50% share of the project’s net earnings over the next 30 years.
- Royalties of $1 million paid annually and shared equally between Uashat mak Mani-utenam and the municipality of Port-Cartier.
First Nation Businesses: $19 million awarded in goods and services contracts to Indigenous businesses.
Local employment impacts: Over 300 workers mobilized during construction and 11 long-term jobs created locally to ensure operations throughout the contract duration.
Development of Innu expertise: Creation of the first wind maintenance training program for Indigenous communities in collaboration with the Mitshapeu Training Centre, Groupe Collegia and Vestas.
Renewable energy to meet Quebec’s needs: Enough electricity to power approximately 150,000 people annually¹.

1.People supplied per year: The data on avoided emissions and the number of people supplied is based on calculations using parameters developed from the criteria of the Energy Sector Management Chair at HEC Montréal, along with annually updated regional emission factors sourced from official data provided by Canadian and U.S. authorities, as well as the International Energy Agency (IEA).

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