Manitoba Hydro is keeping the names of potential companies quiet as they consider options for constructing a series of proposed Indigenous-led wind farms, despite some companies self-identifying. The Crown corporation has not disclosed the number of eligible companies for the 600-megawatt electricity-generating wind farms, which must have at least 51% Indigenous ownership under a program introduced by the province’s NDP government in 2024.
The search for qualified companies to build wind farms, initiated by Manitoba Hydro in 2025, has concluded. However, the corporation has refrained from revealing the number of companies that met the criteria and are now eligible to submit proposals for constructing the wind farms by the July deadline.
According to Hydro spokesperson Peter Chura, the number of proponents cannot be disclosed at this time. All proponents will be identified after finalizing the framework agreement, expected to be completed in June.
In a separate development, the Manitoba Métis Federation has unveiled plans to establish 30 to 35 windmills in partnership with the UK-based Renewable Energy Systems southeast of Riding Mountain National Park. Renewables Energy Systems has been acquiring land in the rural municipalities of Minto-Odanah and Rosedale for the past two years.
While the MMF-Renewable Energy Systems collaboration has been made public, Progressive Conservative Hydro critic Lauren Stone has urged Manitoba Hydro to enhance transparency regarding other wind farm partnerships. Stone expressed concerns about closed-door negotiations and emphasized the importance of addressing community concerns, environmental impacts, and potential economic benefits.
Adrien Sala, the NDP minister overseeing Manitoba Hydro, noted that transparency will be prioritized in due course. He emphasized that the government and Manitoba Hydro cannot comment on ongoing procurement efforts to maintain the process’s integrity. Sala anticipates the disclosure of proponents before the requests for proposals are awarded.
Sala expects groundbreaking on the new wind farms to commence in the summer of 2027, with completion slated for 2035. Despite this timeline, Manitoba’s Climate Action Team, an environmental non-profit organization, has expressed worries about the slow pace of the projects, citing concerns about meeting the province’s increasing electricity demand.