Manitoba Hydro’s proposal to expand its gas-fired power plant in Brandon faced criticism last week after the utility admitted to reducing power output during cold winter periods. The $3 billion project aims to install three new natural gas turbines by 2030, adding 750 megawatts to the province’s capacity and preventing midwinter power shortages.
As part of its broader plan to make 1,760 megawatts available in the next decade, Manitoba Hydro is under scrutiny by the Public Utilities Board in ongoing public hearings. During a recent hearing, it was revealed that the Brandon plant had to limit its output in multiple winter peak usage periods over the past years.
The testimony by Hydro’s energy markets director highlighted the challenges faced by the 280-megawatt fuel-burning generating station during peak demand days. Critics, including James Wilt from the Manitoba Climate Action Team, raised concerns over the reliability of gas turbines during extreme cold weather, advocating for more investment in renewable energy sources like wind and solar power.
Hydro’s 10-year plan includes the construction of new gas turbines, battery storage, wind farms, and energy efficiency measures. Despite criticisms, Hydro defended its gas plant, citing occasional outages common in power generation and emphasizing the need for infrastructure upgrades at the aging Brandon station.
The Public Utilities Board hearings on Hydro’s energy strategy are ongoing and are scheduled to continue until early September.