| Green Power? Manitoba Hydro Imports Dirty Energy | 11 August 08 |
 It's a little-known fact that Manitoba Hydro imports power from the US during nighttime hours, especially in the winter. Some of that power comes from nuclear plants, but most comes from coal-fired generators - which emit harmful GHGs.In the 2007-08 year, Hydro imported 600 million kilowatt hours of US power, about 355 mega tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions. Manitoba Hydro argues that importing power overnight helps keep Manitoba's rates among the lowest. And Hydro can sell 'surplus' power back to the United States during the day, keeping states such as Minnesota and Wisconsin from firing up more coal generators to meet peak daytime needs. "If Manitoba is serious about meeting Kyoto targets, why don't we use our own power to meet domestic energy needs? If Manitobans are consuming fossil fuel based power, is this reflected in Manitoba's calculations of greenhouse gas emissions? These are the kind of questions that must be answered in Manitoba's intended new Energy Plan," said Gaile Whelan Enns, of Manitoba Wildlands. The Manitoba government intends to work on a province-wide Engery Plan during fall 2008. View August 2, 2008 Winnipeg Free Press articleView 57th Annual Report of the Manitoba Hydro-Electric Board for the Year Ended March 31, 2008 (see page 9 for import statistics) (PDF) Sources: Winnipeg Free Press, Manitoba Hydro |
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