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Rupert River may yet have a chance
Posted by Montreal Environment in Aboriginal, Biodiversity, Energy
The ‘inauguration’ of the EM1A Rupert River Diversion Project held on January 11 diverges from the established federal environmental assessment process as set out in the Environmental Impact Assessment Act. The federal permits have not been released as of yet and therefore by starting the construction of the EM1A Rupert Diversion project, HQ finds itself in violation of the EIA process.
The November (2006) referenda held in the community of Nemaska, Waskaganish, and Chisasibi, seriously weaken the social acceptability of this project. The announcement also indicated that the price tag has increased from the original $4B to $5B. Coupled with an increase in the production cost from 4.6cents/kwh to5.1 cents/kwh, the EM1A project loses its economic viability for Quebec as a whole. Environmental groups such as Rivers Foundation (picture above) are supporting the three Cree communities in their fight to save the Rupert River, by calling for a moratorium on the project. It is a race against time for the Cree Chiefs and they prepare to submit a proposal for a wind park as alternative to the diversion.
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