Mixed reactions to premier’s wind power plan

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This article was published 19/10/2024 (514 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Premier Wab Kinew’s announcement last month that Manitoba would work with Indigenous partners to create wind power has brought mixed reactions among local First Nations and Métis.

In September, the premier announced the province will help Indigenous bands create 600 megawatts of new wind power. The intent, he said, was to bring affordable, clean energy to Manitoba and produce jobs for the Indigenous bands — an idea that has brought mixed reactions from local bands.

Waywayseecappo First Nation chief Murray Clearsky says he’s interested in moving forward with wind turbines, partially because the current cost of electricy is a significant portion of their expenses.

“I think we have to start looking at stuff like this,” Clearsky told the Sun on Friday. “Because right now our power bills are crazy.”

Clearsky said he has been working with professionals to get Waywayseecappo’s land tested for wind strength and expects equipment will be installed in the coming weeks.

Provided the testing goes well, showing the area gets enough wind energy to justify installing a turbine, the chief said he would “for sure” want to set up a meeting with the province to discuss next steps.

“If you generate enough power to supply our community, that would be good, and whatever’s left, you can sell back or get credit back from the province,” he said.

Clearsky emphasized that having a self-sufficient source of power would be groundbreaking.

But not everyone saw the deal so favourably. Chief Vince Tacan of Sioux Valley Dakota Nation told the Sun he’s not as interested. In a phone call last week, he questioned whether the wind farms would address the pressing issues his community is dealing with.

“I don’t know if that is the magic bullet for First Nations,” he said. “We’re all struggling with housing issues and lack of revenue, (we have many problems that need immediate attention). If this is an economic development thing, it’s probably not something that would pay benefits right away.”

He added basics like clean drinking water, suicide and mental health support should be addressed before his community can start to worry about clean energy. When asked about wind turbines creating revenue, Tacan had concerns about how the partnership between First Nations and the province would roll out.

“Is there legislation in Manitoba where they have to buy it from us if we produce it?” he asked. “Or are they going to close it off?”

He said he worried that the wind power could turn out to be expensive – and that the province would then back away and search for cheaper power to buy instead, leaving his band with a turbine they committed to, minus the buyer they hoped to have.

“If we invest in this, are we going to have a market for it?”

On Friday, the Manitoba Métis Federation signalled it was on board and interested with the plan to partner for wind power. The federation established an entity called the Red River Métis Power Corporation to develop, own, and operate infrastructure including wind farms.

The federation has stated that company will prepare to produce up to 300 megawatts of wind energy in Manitoba.

“We believe wind power is an important way to secure a stable future for all,” said the president of the federation, David Chartrand in a press release on Friday. “Our government and its Red River Métis Power Corporation are well positioned to submit and expression of interest to Manitoba Hydro.”

The president said the MMF is looking to deliver power needs that Manitoba Hydro has stated it will need in the near term.

» cmcdowell@brandonsun.com