Onimiki Renewable Energy would like to share some additional information following the broadcast of La semaine verte’s report on September 21.
Onimiki Renewable Energy is a 100% community-based project. This historic partnership brings together the Kebaowek, Wolf Lake and Pekuakamiulnatsh Takuhikan First Nations, as well as the MRC de Témiscamingue. Together, they are developing a hydroelectric project that will give First Nations communities and the citizens of the MRC de Témiscamingue access to substantial revenues to develop projects that will help their communities.
The partners involved in the project’s development are deeply convinced that it is possible to propose a hydroelectric project that preserves the environment while enabling communities to develop.
“We are aware that our project raises concerns. Many of them were shared with us during our consultations in the spring of 2024. The flow of the Kipawa River and the presence of Parc national d’Opémican are elements that we are keeping in mind. The project’s development is in the preliminary stages, with several steps still to be completed. Our priority is to propose a well-integrated project that is acceptable for our communities and our citizens. We are taking all the impacts into consideration and will incorporate mitigation measures that will be developed in concert with all the stakeholders involved,” says David McLaren, President of Onimiki Renewable Energy.
Flow in the Kipawa River
The flow to be maintained in the Kipawa River is an important issue in the development of the project. The river’s flow is controlled by the Laniel dam, which is managed by the Direction générale des barrages (formerly the Centre d’expertise hydrique du Québec). This management system regulates the level of the Kipawa reservoir.
The Kipawa reservoir is lowered between fall and spring to accommodate the spring freshet. The reservoir is also designed to prevent spring flooding in the Ottawa River watershed and in the Montreal region.
The data are available by clicking here.
The Onimiki project differs from run-of-river power plants, which produce less in winter, in that it relies on a managed reservoir, enabling winter production during periods of high demand. Hydropower is a stable form of energy that can meet demand.
As part of the project’s development, some of the water currently discharged into the Kipawa River would be redirected to the new reservoir outlet. Environmental studies and discussions with the community will determine what flows are acceptable to ensure that ecosystem biodiversity is maintained.
Various scenarios will be submitted for consultation in order to determine the parameters deemed acceptable for the environment and to arrive at a regional consensus to ensure a healthy cohabitation of uses.
Numerous authorizations are required for the project to go ahead. All environmental analyses will be rigorously conducted to document all impacts and propose appropriate mitigation measures in collaboration with the community. Onimiki Renewable Energy will rigorously follow the process.