The Manitoba government, led by Premier Wab Kinew, has unveiled its long-awaited Affordable Energy Plan, signalling their direction for how the government plans to unlock economic growth and increase clean energy generation in the province.
Harnessing the Wind for Economic Reconciliation
One of the big announcements in the plan is the proposal to build 600 MW of new wind farms, a significant leap from the current 258 MW of existing wind generation in the province. A key part of this plan is that all developments require majority Indigenous ownership. This initiative is a step towards economic reconciliation, ensuring that the benefits of these projects support Indigenous communities. This will not only foster economic growth, but also a more inclusive economy that would have stronger relationships between businesses and Indigenous partners.
New Power Requires Alignment with Government Priorities
The province also stated that new electricity-intensive industrial customers will be prioritized according to their alignment with the provincial economic development strategy. The Manitoba Chambers of Commerce encourages the government to provide transparency on what would constitute alignment and how they will determine the benefits of competing projects so that the private sector has clarity on the priorities.
Building Code Changes, and Innovation
The Affordable Energy Plan also includes measures that impact the construction industry, such as strengthening environmental performance codes for buildings and ensuring capacity for electric vehicle charging in new builds. Additionally, the plan outlines the intent to explore innovative opportunities like green hydrogen, sustainable aviation fuel, and district energy heating, showing the province is interested in developing more than just electricity projects.
Join the Conversation
We invite you to engage with the Manitoba Green Advantage team who are exploring wind power and other green economic opportunities for Manitoba.
For those interested in diving deeper into the details of the Affordable Energy Plan and related initiatives, you can view the plan below.
Together, let’s grow Manitoba’s green economy and make it the best province to live and work.
