The Manitoba Métis Federation is “ready to go” on the province’s plan for new wind farms that would be majority-owned by Indigenous governments, while powering tens of thousands of homes.
Federation president David Chartrand said the Métis government has been purchasing land and speaking to companies, such as Mitsubishi, while exploring the possibility of wind-generating projects of its own.
“It really is something we have been looking at for some time ourselves,” Chartrand said Friday, after the NDP government unveiled its affordable energy plan. “We’re ready to make a move.”
The province has proposed “nation-to-nation” agreements with First Nations and Métis governments for up to 600 megawatts of wind power — a near-term need identified by Manitoba Hydro to help meet rising demand for electricity.
The Crown corporation will issue an expression of interest. The province said a loan guarantee program will be set up.
Chartrand said the federation will seek an agreement to produce 300 megawatts, noting it favours an even balance between Métis and First Nations governments.
Project costs, timelines, potential revenues and locations are among the details that need to be worked out, he noted.
Property on lakes Winnipeg and Manitoba is among the land purchased by the Métis organization, said Chartrand.
He said he recently met with Finance Minister Adrien Sala to discuss wind power and possible investments.
“I think it’s a windfall for everyone,” said Chartrand. “It will create a lot of jobs and opportunities.”
The plan contains seven objectives aimed at keeping hydro rates “affordable,” while increasing capacity and cutting greenhouse gas emissions.
Highlights include energy efficiency and electric vehicle incentives, updated building codes, a move toward “clean” heating sources, such as electric pumps, and greater oversight of the oil and gas sector.
“While we expand and diversify our clean energy sources, we recognize that non-renewables, which currently make up 73 per cent of our energy use, will continue to play a role in our energy profile,” the plan said.
At a news conference, Sala wouldn’t say if Manitoba will build natural gas plants in the short term.
After last year’s election, Premier Wab Kinew directed Environment Minister Tracy Schmidt to make Manitoba’s electricity grid net-zero by 2035.
Kinew, who has promised a one-year hydro rate freeze this term, insisted his government can keep rates “affordable,” while expanding and upgrading the grid, and trying to reduce debt.
“Working with First Nations and Métis partners to stand up these wind farms allows us to be able to say, ‘You go out and build these projects through your governments, create jobs in your communities,’” he said at PTI Transformers in Fort Garry.
“We don’t have to show that on our books as we stand it up, and in so doing we’re able to keep the hydro rates affordable for you, the rate-paying customers out there across Manitoba.”
The plan does not contain any cost projections.
“I don’t think Manitobans are going to be fooled by this plan,” said interim Progressive Conservative Leader Wayne Ewasko. “The plan lacks details. There is a whole lot of expense, and no plan on how to pay for it.”
Kinew said Manitoba Hydro will come up with a capital plan.
Ewasko accused the premier of releasing the plan this week to distract from the backlash over MLA Mark Wasyliw’s ouster from the NDP caucus.
Ewasko called for an independent investigation, after Wasyliw accused Kinew of being a bully and toxic leader. Kinew denied the allegations.
The government announced its energy plan at a transformer manufacturing plant in Wasyliw’s constituency.
Bethany Daman, a spokeswoman for Manitoba’s Climate Action Team, a coalition of environmental organizations, welcomed plans to build wind farms and diversify the province’s grid.
“The realities are we don’t have enough power for the ongoing transition in our province,” she said.
Daman wanted the plan to include an analysis of greenhouse gas emissions.
“Missing that piece is very significant,” she said. “We haven’t set out to analyze where emissions are coming from over the next while. The plan doesn’t identify how Manitoba will get Manitobans off of fossil fuels.”
Daman said Manitoba needs to support those who want to make the transition to other sources of energy, such as geothermal, but are unable to afford it on their own.
Sala told reporters geothermal heating is part of the province’s plans. Kinew said the only way to convince Manitobans to do the “climate-friendly thing” when they buy a vehicle or heat their home is to make it affordable.
Daman stressed the importance of reducing the need for energy through measures such as improved public transport systems.
“That’s not in the report,” she said.
University of Manitoba Prof. Mark Hudson, an environmental sociologist, said the plan contains positive initial steps, which should have been taken by the provincial government more than a decade ago.
Substantial interventions are needed to achieve Manitoba’s goal of net-zero emissions by 2050, said Hudson, who described it as a tight timeline.
“We need to be thinking about these climate and job creation initiatives on a much larger scale,” he said.
For example, plans to give electric heat pumps to 5,000 homes or introduce a higher tier of energy efficiency in building and energy codes need to be ramped up, Hudson added.
chris.kitching@freepress.mb.ca
Chris Kitching
Reporter
Chris Kitching is a general assignment reporter at the Free Press. He began his newspaper career in 2001, with stops in Winnipeg, Toronto and London, England, along the way. After returning to Winnipeg, he joined the Free Press in 2021, and now covers a little bit of everything for the newspaper. Read more about Chris.
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