Manitoba Hydro’s proposal to expand its gas-fired power plant in Brandon faced criticism last week following revelations that the plant had to reduce power output during cold winter periods. The Crown corporation is planning a $3 billion project to add three new natural gas turbines to the existing pair in Brandon, aiming to boost the province’s generating capacity by 750 megawatts by 2030 to prevent potential midwinter power shortages.
As part of a larger plan to make 1,760 megawatts of electricity available over the next decade, Manitoba Hydro is currently under scrutiny by the Public Utilities Board through a series of public hearings. During a recent hearing on July 29, Cheryl Sanclemente, Hydro’s energy markets director, disclosed that the Brandon fuel-burning generating station had to reduce its maximum power output during peak usage periods in the past winter seasons.
Under questioning from Kent Elson, a lawyer for the Manitoba Eco-Network, Sanclemente confirmed that the plant’s output was lowered during peak usage periods in January and December 2022, as well as in January of this year. This admission was deemed rare by James Wilt, policy director for the Manitoba Climate Action Team, who criticized Hydro’s reliance on natural gas turbines during winter cold snaps instead of investing in renewable energy sources like wind farms and solar power.
Hydro’s 10-year plan also includes the construction of five megawatts of battery storage by 2034, the development of new wind farms capable of generating 600 megawatts by 2035, and energy efficiency measures totaling 860 megawatts. In response to the concerns raised, Hydro spokesperson Peter Chura highlighted that all forms of power generation can face occasional service disruptions, emphasizing that the Brandon gas turbines are over 20 years old.
At the Public Utilities Board hearing, Hydro’s vice-president Dave Bowen defended the reliability of natural gas plants, stating that past neglect in maintenance and critical investments had impacted the performance of the existing Brandon station. The hearings regarding Hydro’s energy plan are ongoing and scheduled to continue until September 4.