Premier François Legault expressed his endorsement for the establishment of Swedish company Northvolt’s battery plant, emphasizing that environmental organizations should view the initiative positively.
The premier, joined by Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, disclosed a joint investment of $7.3 billion by the federal and provincial governments to construct the battery plant in the Montérégie region, specifically in Saint-Basile-le-Grand and McMasterville.
However, as reported by Radio-Canada, concerns were raised regarding the project’s exemption from an assessment by the Bureau d’audiences publiques sur l’environnement (BAPE) due to its anticipated production capacity of 56,000 metric tonnes of energy storage equipment. The regulatory amendment last July stipulated that battery plants producing 60,000 metric tonnes or less would be exempt from undergoing a BAPE assessment.
In response to inquiries during a press scrum this week, Premier Legault assured that the Northvolt plant would adhere to all environmental regulations during its establishment.
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“I think that all environmental groups should applaud this extraordinary project for the environment. This is a plant that is excellent for the environment, and all the environmental rules will be respected,” he said.
The announcement had sparked concerns in the Montérégie region on Thursday, leading to the submission of a 700-name petition to the McMasterville town council, urging a reconsideration of the project. Petitioners expressed apprehensions about potential noise and pollution resulting from the proposed plant.
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