Manitoba Hydro faced criticism over its plans to expand the gas-burning generating station in Brandon after revealing a need to lower power output during severe winter conditions. The proposed $3 billion project aims to add three new natural gas turbines to enhance the province’s generating capacity by 750 megawatts by 2030, reducing the risk of midwinter power shortages.
As part of a larger strategy to make 1,760 megawatts of electricity available in the next decade, Manitoba Hydro is under scrutiny by the Public Utilities Board through a series of public hearings. During a recent hearing, it was disclosed that the Brandon plant had to decrease its maximum power output during three out of the last 10 winter peak usage periods.
According to Cheryl Sanclemente, Hydro’s energy markets director, the plant experienced reduced output during peak usage periods on specific dates. This revelation prompted concerns from critics, including the Manitoba Climate Action Team, who advocate for alternative energy solutions like wind farms, solar power, and battery storage instead of relying more on fossil fuels.
In response to the concerns, Hydro’s spokesperson mentioned that occasional outages are common in power generation, highlighting the age of the Brandon gas turbines. At the hearings, Hydro’s vice-president defended the station’s reliability, attributing past challenges to inadequate investments in maintenance and operational issues.
The Public Utilities Board hearings on Hydro’s energy plan are ongoing and scheduled to continue until early September.
