On June 7, 2016, the Quebec Government introduced before the National Assembly Bill 106, An Act to implement the 2030 Energy Policy and to amend various legislative provisions. The 2030 Energy Policy has the principal goal of making Quebec, by 2030, a North American leader in renewable energy and energy efficiency.

Bill 106 introduces four essential components to the 2030 Energy Policy:

  • The creation of Transition énergétique Québec, a new Quebec-owned corporation to support the energy transition, innovation and efficiency, and to coordinate the implementation of the measures necessary to achieve the target defined by the Quebec Government. This corporation will be governed by an Act respecting Transition énergétique Québec;
  • The amendment of an Act respecting the Régie de l'énergie, to introduce new provisions concerning the distribution of renewable natural gas, and the inclusion of excess transmission capacity in a natural gas distributor's supply plan;
  • The amendment of the Hydro‑Québec Act to authorize Hydro-Québec to grant financial assistance to any entity offering or organizing shared transportation services, including the Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec; and
  • The enactment of the Petroleum Resources Act that will govern the development of petroleum resources while ensuring safety of persons and property, environmental protection, and optimal recovery of the resource, in compliance with the greenhouse gas emission reduction targets set by the Quebec Government. In conjunction with these goals, it establishes a licence and authorization system applicable to exploration for and the production and storage of petroleum.

The introduction of Bill 106 in Quebec's National Assembly is an essential step towards the implementation of the 2030 Energy Policy. Bill 106 will be studied by the National Assembly and is subject to further modifications. For more information regarding Quebec's 2030 Energy Policy, see our blog: http://www.canadianenergylawblog.com/2016/04/08/quebecs-new-energy-policy/ and the Bill published on the Quebec National Assembly's website: http://www.assnat.qc.ca/en/travaux-parlementaires/projets-loi/projet-loi-106-41-1.html.

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