Article content

QUEBEC CITY — Premier François Legault has scuttled the $600-million Apuiat wind farm project near Port Cartier on the North Shore, at least until Hydro-Québec has sold its surplus inventory.

Legault made the announcement Thursday night after meeting for nearly two hours with Innu leaders in the offices of the Department of Energy and Natural Resources. The announcement put an end to several months of controversy, with critics having urged the newly elected premier to reconsider his position.

We apologize, but this video has failed to load.

tap here to see other videos from our team. Try refreshing your browser, or François Legault puts the brakes on $600M Apuiat wind-farm project Back to video

“There will be no project as long as Hydro-Québec is in a surplus position,” Legault told a news conference, where he was joined by Minister of Energy Jonatan Julien and Minister of Aboriginal Affairs Sylvie D’Amours.

The premier said the Apuiat contract would have represented a “potential cost” of $1.6 billion for Hydro-Québec, which estimates it has about 20 years’ worth of surplus energy.