Dominik Boudreault Lapierre
Project Director
Anik Pouliot
Partner and Vice-president Expertise
Hydro-Québec’s new tender for wind power (tender 2026-01) sends a clear message: social acceptability is no longer a matter of intent, it’s a fundamental shift.
What has changed?
While the 2023 tender took a minimalistic approach to social acceptability, this new tender marks a major shift by requiring a structured and documented approach as an admissibility requirement.
Hydro-Québec now requires developers to submit a Project Strategic Planning Report (PSPR), which must include an integration plan and a detailed social acceptability strategy. Developers will need to identify communities of interest affected by their project, consult with them, document their concerns, and optimize their project accordingly before submitting their bid.
To meet these requirements, Hydro-Québec is requiring that public consultations be held at two separate moments prior to bid submission, specifically to present the project’s progress and the optimizations made to address the concerns of the communities of interest.
A paradigm shift
This new tender marks a turning point. Social acceptability is now operational prerequisite. While the PSPR components are not directly weighted as part of the assessment, they do serve as eligibility criteria. In other words, a project submitted without a structured social engagement process will be rejected.
What it means for developers
The social acceptability process must be planned early on. Identifying stakeholders, understanding local dynamics, engaging authentically, and thoroughly documenting the process are no longer optional; they are eligibility requirements.
While concerns surrounding wind projects is growing across Quebec, the quality and credibility of a developer’s community engagement approach can make the difference between a project that moves forward and one that stalls.
A/O 2026-01 confirms what we’ve been observing for years: social conditions are as crucial as wind resources for the viability of projects. Developers who invest early in building trust-based relationships with communities will be best positioned to succeed.
Building the Conditions for Social Acceptability
For over 30 years, Transfert has supported developers in designing structured and documented engagement processes that foster meaningful dialogue and build social acceptability from the earliest stages of a project. An authentic, rigorous, and well-structured approach is key to achieving success for both developers and stakeholders.
A project, a challenge, or a relationship to build?
Dominik Boudreault Lapierre
Project Director
Versatile and results-driven, Dominik supports project promoters navigating complex social, environmental and territorial contexts. His work centers on durable solutions and on building the conditions that support the social acceptability of projects.
Anik Pouliot
Partner and Vice-president Expertise
A seasoned expert in public participation and community relations, Anik Pouliot is recognized for her ability to create meaning at the heart of complex contexts. She creates clear-sighted participatory approaches and excels in coaching and developing projects in sensitive contexts, with intelligence and humanity.