Manitoba Hydro’s Wind Call for Power for the purchase up to 600 megawatts of wind energy from Indigenous majority-owned projects is reaching another major milestone today with the issuing of the first Request for Proposals (RFP).
This first RFP intends to select a new wind project that will provide, through a power purchase agreement with Manitoba Hydro, up to 200 megawatts of wind energy. The RFP is being issued today and will close this summer.
The RFP follows a strong positive response to the Request for Qualified Suppliers (RFQS) Manitoba Hydro released in October, and the majority of proponents who responded were selected to move ahead to the next step of the procurement process.
“This marks an important milestone as we build Manitoba’s energy future with new, majority owned Indigenous wind generation, developed through strong government-to-government partnerships,” said Adrien Sala, Minister responsible for Manitoba Hydro.
“By expanding our clean-energy capacity we are ensuring Manitobans continue to benefit from reliable power and affordable rates for years to come.”
“We’re very excited to take this next step toward building Manitoba’s energy future,” said Allan Danroth, President and CEO of Manitoba Hydro.
“These 600 megawatts of new wind resources will increase Manitoba’s supply of electricity, while also supporting economic development and reconciliation with Manitoba’s Indigenous Nations.”
The Wind Call for Power was first announced in Manitoba’s Affordable Energy Plan and is a critical part of Manitoba Hydro’s Integrated Resource Plan to ensure safe, reliable and affordable energy for Manitobans now and in the future.
Each new wind project must be majority owned by an Indigenous Nation (or multiple Nations) in Manitoba and connect to Manitoba Hydro’s grid within 20 kilometres of one of 14 existing electrical substations in southern Manitoba.
Manitoba Hydro will purchase up to 600 megawatts of wind energy from these projects through power purchase agreements. The first phase of wind projects is expected to have a Power Purchase Agreement in place, with work starting on development, in the 2027 timeframe. It’s anticipated that all phases will be completed and online by 2035.
The Wind Call for Power has been designed to give several opportunities for proponents to qualify and participate in multiple RFPs. As a result, any proponents who did not make it through the RFQS phase in this phase will have additional opportunities to reapply and qualify for future RFPs.
“This is an important part of our plan for meeting the energy needs of our customers well into the future,” said Danroth.
For more information, please contact:
Peter Chura, Media Relations Officer
431-323-4511
pchura@hydro.mb.ca
