Hydro seeking Indigenous-owned wind farms

Manitoba Hydro is seeking Indigenous-owned wind farms for future projects.

The utility has issued a request for qualified suppliers for wind farms as large as 200 megawatts that are majority-owned by one or multiple Indigenous nations in Manitoba. Qualified applicants will be able to submit projects to Manitoba Hydro in the future.

“The new wind-energy projects selected in this process will be an important component of Manitoba’s energy future and another step on the path to reconciliation with Indigenous Nations,” Manitoba Hydro President and CEO Allan Danroth said in a news release Wednesday.

Hydro plans to buy up to 600 megawatts of new wind power in Manitoba through the provincial government’s Affordable Energy Plan. To qualify, wind farms will have to be able to connect to Hydro’s 14 existing substations in southern Manitoba.

The request for suppliers closes Jan. 23. Hydro plans to release its first request for proposals for qualified applicants in March 2026.