Premier François Legault Authorizes $300 Million to Upgrade Hydro-Québec James Bay Turbines

QUEBEC CITY — Premier François Legault and Hydro-Québec CEO Michael Sabia announced on Monday a $300 million capital investment to rehabilitate and modernize six high-capacity hydroelectric turbine-generator units at the massive Robert-Bourassa generating station in the James Bay region.

The technological refits, scheduled to take place over the next three years, will replace aging 1970s runner blades with advanced hydrodynamic runner profiles engineered to extract 12 percent more electrical energy from existing water flows, adding 500 megawatts of reliable clean peak capacity to the provincial power grid without constructing new dams or flooding additional land.

Powering Quebec's Industrial Decarbonization Premier Legault emphasized that expanding Hydro-Québec's clean generation capacity is central to the province's economic strategy to decarbonize heavy industrial manufacturing, attract battery gigafactories along the Bécancour corridor, and meet growing domestic power demands.

"Hydro-Québec is our greatest collective asset, and optimizing our existing hydroelectric infrastructure is the fastest, cleanest, and most cost-effective way to power Quebec's future," Premier Legault said in Quebec City. "By adding 500 megawatts of clean power through technological innovation at Robert-Bourassa, we are ensuring that Quebec businesses have the clean baseload electricity needed to create high-paying jobs while keeping residential electricity rates among the lowest in North America."

High-Tech Engineering and Domestic Fabrication The new turbine runners and digital excitation systems will be manufactured and tested at specialized heavy engineering plants in Sorel-Tracy and Sherbrooke, supporting over 850 high-skilled engineering, machining, and electrical assembly jobs.

Hydro-Québec officials noted that the turbine refurbishment program is part of the broader $150 billion Action Plan 2035, which aims to add up to 10,000 megawatts of new clean generation through wind energy partnerships, hydroelectric modernizations, and energy efficiency programs.

Business federations and environmental organizations across Quebec welcomed the announcement, noting that maximizing output from existing hydroelectric complexes represents the gold standard in sustainable energy management.