
WKHPPP
The Whapmagoostui Kuujjuaraapik Hybrid Power Plant Project (WKHPPP) was initiated back in 2011 by the Cree First Nation of Whapmagoostui. A feasibility study was carried out in 2012 with the contributions of the federal and provincial, governments as well as Guodian UPC (a utility state-owned Chinese corporation, which withdrew from the project in 2013). Different sources of renewable energy were studied to replace the current diesel power plant such as biomass, solar and wind. Two interventions were made before the Quebec Energy Board (QEB) in 2014 and 2017 to incite Hydro Quebec Distribution (HQD) to consider entering into a power purchase agreement with the promoter of the project. Given the very special situation of Whapmagoostui and Kuujjuaraapik, being the only of its kind in Canada, dually composed of an Eeyou and Inuit community, the QEB recommended to HQD, in a ruling rendered in December 2017, to work in collaboration with both communities to develop a suitable project for all parties concerned. A joint Eeyou-Inuit Steering Committee was set up in February 2019, which activities lead to the incorporation, in June 2020, of the Kuujjuaraapik Whapmagoostui Renewable Energy Corporation (KWREC), owned equally between Whapmagoostui Eeyou’s and Kuujjuaraapik Inuit’s interest, as the sole developer of WKHPPP. The WKHPPP is presently limited to its wind power generation component. However, in coming years, KWREC and HQD may study other sources of renewable energy and eventually agree on the full replacement of the fossil fuel generation facility and keep it only as emergency back-up.