Quebec Announces New Energy Policy
The objectives of the policy are to move Quebec to a low-carbon economy; to highlight and promote Quebec’s energy resources; to promote responsible consumption; to take full advantage of Quebec’s energy efficiency potential; and stimulate technological innovation and social responsibility.
By 2030, the Government aims to:
- Improve the efficiency of energy use by 15%;
- Reduce the amount of petroleum products consumed by 40%;
- Eliminate the use of thermal coal;
- Increase the total production of renewable energy by 25%;
- Increase bioenergy production by 50%.
The policy also includes support for propane. The Government intends to:
- Support the conversion of vehicles to low carbon options, including propane, LNG and CNG.
- Develop a pilot program that establishes multi-fuel stations (gasoline, biofuels, natural gas, propane, electricity, hydrogen) across Quebec by 2030. At first, these stations will be installed in areas with high potential use. After 2030, any application for new construction or modernization of a gas station must also include multi-fuel options.
The Government also proposes a new agency that will oversee and be responsible for all aspects of the energy transition, consistent with the policies and action plans currently underway. The services and programs offered by various ministries and agencies will be coordinated under this single administration, which will have a budget exceeding $4 billion over a period of 15 years.
The implementation of the 2030 Energy Policy will be done in four phases. First, several changes will be made to the legal framework currently in force. Then, three action plans will emerge.