The federal and Manitoba governments rolled out nearly $11 million in green technology grants Thursday that will help reduce greenhouse gas emissions by dozens of farms and at several affordable housing projects.
Tracy Schmidt, the provincial environment minister, and Terry Duguid, a Winnipeg Liberal MP, announced the first 32 recipients of the low carbon economy fund’s merit-based program at the University of Winnipeg.
The projects will “help Manitobans reduce greenhouse gas emissions and energy use, and save money by lowering energy bills,” Duguid said.
MIKE DEAL / FREE PRESS
Liberal Terry Duguid was on hand to announce the first 32 recipients of the low carbon economy fund’s merit-based program at the University of Winnipeg.
“It’s about becoming more energy efficient, cutting energy costs and building resilient communities, all the while contributing to meeting Canada’s 2030 emission reduction targets.”
The majority of the grants have been doled out to 24 agricultural businesses to help with the switch from carbon-intensive fuels such as diesel and propane to natural gas or electricity.
More than one-third of Manitoba’s annual greenhouse gas emissions come from the farming sector.
Rick Rutherford, the third-generation owner of Rutherford Farms north of Winnipeg, said the grant will help pay for the switch to cleaner fuels for his 4,000 kWh grain dryer and support electrification projects throughout his operation.
“Sustainability has been the cornerstone of what my vision has been for the last number of years,” Rutherford said. “We want to move to a carbon net-zero farm.”
The University of Winnipeg Community Renewal Corp. will use its share of the grant — nearly $4.5 million split across four projects — to develop Canada’s first net-zero mid- and highrise residential buildings.
MIKE DEAL / FREE PRESS
Rick Rutherford, the third-generation owner of Rutherford Farms north of Winnipeg, said the grant will help pay for the switch to cleaner fuels for his 4,000 kWh grain dryer and support electrification projects throughout his operation.
CEO Jeremy Read said the funds will help build 324 mixed-income and affordable housing units in downtown Winnipeg, including the Market Lands development and a transitional housing centre for victims of gender-based violence.
“Today’s low-carbon economy investment is also testimony to how policy objectives such as the supply of quality, affordable housing and environmental sustainability don’t need to be mutually exclusive,” Read said.
In addition, Read said the funds will support hundreds of jobs and help build expertise in designing, planning and construction net-zero housing.
A City of Winnipeg fire station will use its money to install geothermal heating and cooling.
A grant will allow Flin Flon’s Whitney Forum Arena to convert to electric heat from natural gas, while two residential buildings in Churchill will receive funds to support a switch to electric heat from propane.
Schmidt said there was “high demand” among Manitoba businesses for the green energy grants. The province fielded 78 applications, 85 per cent of which came from the agricultural sector.
MIKE DEAL / FREE PRESS
Minister Tracy Schmidt said there was “high demand” among Manitoba businesses for the green energy grants. The province fielded 78 applications, 85 per cent of which came from the agricultural sector.
Altogether, the province estimates the projects will contribute $33 million to Manitoba’s economy.
“These are just some of the projects that will make a big difference in our communities while making life more affordable for Manitobans,” Schmidt said.
julia-simone.rutgers@freepress.mb.ca
Julia-Simone Rutgers
Reporter
Julia-Simone Rutgers is the Manitoba environment reporter for the Free Press and The Narwhal. She joined the Free Press in 2020, after completing a journalism degree at the University of King’s College in Halifax, and took on the environment beat in 2022. Read more about Julia-Simone.
Julia-Simone’s role is part of a partnership with The Narwhal, funded by the Winnipeg Foundation. Every piece of reporting Julia-Simone produces is reviewed by an editing team before it is posted online or published in print — part of the Free Press‘s tradition, since 1872, of producing reliable independent journalism. Read more about Free Press’s history and mandate, and learn how our newsroom operates.
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