February 28, 2014
New Major Export Power Sales Announced by Province
– – –Deals for 108 Megawatts, 308 Megawatts Would Require Building Conawapa: Premier Selinger
Manitoba Hydro has signed two major power deals with Green Bay-based Wisconsin Public Service (WPS), Premier Greg Selinger announced today.
The first sale, running from 2016 to 2021, is for 108 megawatts of firm power. The second is for 308 MW of firm power for up to 10 years and would require electricity produced by the proposed Conawapa Generating Station on the Nelson River beginning in 2027.
Today’s announcement brings Manitoba Hydro’s total signed export contracts since 2010 to over $9 billion, the premier said adding the details of the sale’s financial arrangements will be filed with the Public Utilities Board as part of its review of the Crown corporation’s preferred development plan.
“This is an historic deal for our province and for Manitoba Hydro that will create thousands of good jobs and power our economic growth for decades,” said Premier Selinger. “Our plan to build for the future now will ensure we can meet strong demand in our traditional and emerging export markets, keeping rates for Manitoba families and businesses among the lowest on the continent.”
A previously announced 100-MW sale to WPS is scheduled to run from 2021 to 2026, bridging the gap between the two new deals. The 308-MW sale also requires the new 500,000-volt Manitoba‑Minnesota transmission line currently in the planning stages.
“Export opportunities are fundamental to our preferred development plan,” said Scott Thomson, president and CEO of Manitoba Hydro. “The agreement we are announcing today validates our plan and means all Manitobans will continue to benefit from exports through enhanced reliability and lower rates.”
“We are confident our export customers will continue to have a strong interest in buying our reliable supply of clean, renewable power as they look to diversify their energy portfolios and manage their exposure to emerging environmental issues,” said Municipal Government Minister Stan Struthers, minister responsible for Manitoba Hydro.
“Today’s announcement supports Manitoba Hydro’s plan to build new generating stations and transmission lines,” Minister Struthers said. We are confident that the needs for and alternatives to (NFAT) review being conducted by the Public Utilities Board is also going to support the conclusion that Manitoba Hydro’s plan is sound and that it will offer the greatest benefit to all Manitobans in the future. Cancelling these projects without that review, as our critics have urged, would be a colossal mistake.”
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