Hydropower Sustainability Council celebrates Gold Certification for Hydro-Québec’s Eastmain-1 Development

Announcement

29 Aug

Written By HSA

The Hydropower Sustainability Council proudly announces the historic gold-level certification granted to Hydro-Québec's Eastmain-1 Development, the first project globally to achieve this prestigious accolade under the Hydropower Sustainability Standard (HSS). A testament to Hydro-Québec's commitment to sustainability, this certification underscores excellence across all twelve Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) aspects.

Dr. Ashok Khosla, Chair of the Hydropower Sustainability Council, emphasized the crucial role of accountability in the transition to cleaner energy sources through rigorous sustainability mechanisms like the HSS. He stated, "Hydropower, by itself, and as a complement and enabler for intermittent ones such as solar and wind, must be considered with objectivity and accountability as a key element in any meaningful transition strategy."

A hallmark of this achievement is Hydro-Québec's transparency and partnership-oriented approach. The clean energy provider’s dedication to openness is underscored by its proactive engagement with stakeholders and Indigenous communities throughout the assessment process. Four independent observers, hailing from local and international environmental groups, accompanied assessors during the project site visit.

“Respect for Indigenous peoples is a fundamental requirement of the Hydropower Sustainability Standard,” said Julie Boucher, Vice President – Sustainability, Community Relations and Communications at Hydro-Québec. “We are honored that the Cree communities that worked with us during the construction and environmental follow-up phases accepted to engage in the certification process.”

The Hydropower Sustainability Council encourages other developers to follow Hydro-Québec's lead and consider undergoing independent assessments under the HSS. This assessment and certification system equips industry actors with the tools to improve their overall ESG performance and gain recognition for their commitment to sustainability.