Province weighs power source options

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This article was published 07/03/2025 (225 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

The Manitoba government has not made a final decision on the fate of the Brandon Generating Station as the province moves forward with its plan to phase out natural gas as an electricity source by 2035, Finance Minister Adrien Sala said.

Manitoba Hydro is proposing to spend $1.36 billion on a new fuel-burning station capable of generating 500 megawatts of electricity on demand, in order to stave off a power shortage expected as soon as five winters from now.

Premier Wab Kinew has asked Sala to phase out the on-demand use of Manitoba’s sole existing natural gas-fired plant — the 280-watt Brandon Generating Station — by 2035.

Manitoba Hydro is exploring multiple options to ensure reliable power sources at the moment, Sala, the minister responsible for Hydro, told the Sun Thursday.

“The provincial government is prioritizing renewable energy projects to meet growing electricity demands,” he said. “Previous administrations failed to add any new generation capacity for over seven years, prompting our government to move swiftly with an affordable energy plan.”

The plan includes partnering with First Nations to develop 600 megawatts of new wind energy. However, Sala acknowledged the need for “dispatchable energy resources” to maintain grid reliability, especially during peak winter demand.

“We know that we need to develop new dispatchable energy resources again to support that new wind that we’re going to be developing in partnership with First Nations and to ensure energy reliability and affordability here in the province,” Sala said.

Manitoba Hydro has applied to the Public Utilities Board to begin planning the addition of 500 megawatts of “dispatchable capacity” through two combustion turbines, spokesperson Peter Chura told the Sun.

Chura said that “no resource or investment decisions have been made, including the type of fuel to be used,” however it was reported earlier in the week by the CBC that natural gas was the “least expensive option.”

Manitoba Hydro is currently preparing its 2025 Integrated Resource Plan, which will outline recommendations for new energy supply and grid expansion. This report will also address the future of the Brandon Generating Station.

“Non-renewables are expected to remain part of our energy profile,” Chura said. “Responsible stewardship of these resources is key to protecting our environment and our families as we move toward our net-zero targets.”

Amid this transition, Brandon is also set to receive a 100-megawatt hydro upgrade by 2027, part of a broader effort to enhance transmission capacity in the region.

This upgrade, which includes new transmission infrastructure linking the Wash’ake Mayzoon Station in Portage la Prairie to Brandon, is expected to support the city’s growing industrial and residential energy demands.

However, it remains unclear how this upgrade will fit into the province’s long-term plan, especially if the natural gas plant is phased out without a clear alternative for dispatchable power.

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