Thank you for the question. A few years ago, I had a discussion with the mayor of Matane. She talked about the benefits of major wind infrastructures. Where she lives, Marmen Énergie makes the towers, and Composites VCI makes the nacelles. In Gaspé, LM Glasfiber makes the blades.
The mayor of Gaspé and the mayor of Matane said this gave the community hope for the future. Young people are coming back to their communities to work in these fields. Even the prices of houses in those towns have risen since the plants were built. That is what is happening with the industries.
In terms of the communities, some farmers have one or two windmills on their land. They receive money paid by the promoter. Very often that enables them to stay in their homes, because that income enhances the viability of their operations.
So industrial development creates benefits for farmers, communities and rural settlements, but we also have to consider the taxes paid. Public buildings are being built because of the payments made by the promoters or wind energy projects.