Wind Power News: Manitoba
These news and opinion items are gathered by National Wind Watch to help keep readers informed about developments related to industrial wind energy. They are the products of the organizations or individuals noted and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of National Wind Watch.
State approves deal with Hydro
The unanimous approval this week by the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission of a 15-year, 250-megawatt power purchase deal between Minnesota Power and Manitoba Hydro further solidifies the building of the province’s next hydroelectric dam, Premier Greg Selinger said Friday. “It means we’ve got to build Keeyask now, and it means that we’ve got a customer,” Selinger said. “It’s a great story.” The Minnesota state regulator approved the power purchase agreement on Thursday, a deal that was first announced four years . . .
State OKs agreement between Minnesota Power, Manitoba Hydro
State regulators will allow Minnesota Power to buy carbon-free hydroelectricity for 15 years from Manitoba Hydro. The contract will begin in 2020. The 250 megawatt power purchase will support Minnesota Power resource planning goals of more efficiency, flexibility and diversity while lessening its dependence on coal and lowering emissions from its generation fleet, the division of ALLETE Inc. said in a news release. The Minnesota Public Utilities Commission’s endorsement “demonstrates that cooperation in energy supply and transmission planning can cross . . .
Wisconsin’s wind
A few days ago Manitoba Hydro’s Bob Brennan told me one of the hurdles the Crown corporation faces in selling more power to the United States is competition from American wind farms. Brennan said as American states buy more power from Manitoba, critics in the U.S. say it will result in a loss of jobs and investment for new wind farms and other projects. Specifically, they’re opposed to a new Wisconsin bill to allow hydroelectric power from Manitoba to qualify . . .
Snowmobiler killed at wind-farm site
A 47-year-old RM of Montcalm man died when the snowmobile he was driving struck a fence around the construction site for a wind turbine on Wednesday. Gerard Fillion was pronounced dead after Emerson RCMP and local emergency personnel rushed to the scene. Marcel Bissonnette, Letellier’s fire chief and one of the emergency responders called to the scene, said on Thursday the site was in a field and not on a marked snowmobile trail. “Snowmobilers should know the conditions they are . . .

