Quebec Renewable Energy Summit Draws Record 300 Attendees

Quebec just showed the world what serious climate action looks like when over 300 renewable energy professionals gathered in Montreal for the Canadian Renewable Energy Association's third annual summit.

The May 21 event brought together an unprecedented mix of government officials, developers, Indigenous partners, and municipal leaders. They came to solve one ambitious challenge: how to deliver 150 terawatt hours of clean electricity across Quebec within 25 years.

"The scale of what Quebec is undertaking demands broad, honest, action-oriented dialogue," said Jean Habel, CanREA's senior director of policy for Quebec and Atlantic Canada. The summit's record attendance proves the province's renewable energy sector is ready to meet that challenge.

The day featured insights from Jimmy Jean, chief economist at Desjardins Group, who outlined Quebec's strong investment climate for renewable projects. Four government representatives also spoke, including provincial environment minister Pascale Déry and federal parliamentary secretaries for industry and energy.

Morning sessions focused on Hydro-Quebec's plans to open new wind development zones. Developers sat alongside Indigenous and municipal partners to discuss collaboration models that turn planning into real projects.

The Ripple Effect

This summit's success signals something bigger than one province's energy goals. Quebec's integrated approach brings together every stakeholder needed for large-scale renewable deployment: financiers discussing capital structures, supply chain experts solving labor shortages, and community leaders ensuring social acceptance.

The afternoon sessions tackled practical realities head-on. One panel examined environmental and regulatory requirements shaping project timelines. Another explored how electrifying industry, transportation, and buildings reshapes energy needs across the province.

The summit happened at a pivotal moment. Quebec's government is preparing its new integrated energy resource management plan following Hydro-Quebec's Action Plan 2035 release. Together, these roadmaps will guide massive wind and solar deployment provincewide.

The event closed with concurrent workshops on project deployment challenges and networking that continued through an evening reception. When 300 energy professionals spend an entire day problem-solving together, real momentum builds.

Quebec's renewable energy community just proved it has the collaboration, expertise, and determination to turn ambitious climate goals into tangible results.