Construction of a 138MW wind farm near St. Joseph, Man., has commenced, announced Premier Greg Selinger, following the successful negotiation of a 27-year power purchase agreement between Manitoba Hydro and Pattern Energy.

“The construction of the second major wind farm in this province is an
exciting and significant step,” Selinger said. “It will provide clean,
renewable electricity far into the future, and help diversify our
province’s energy resources.”

Pattern will invest $95 million into the project. Manitoba Hydro,
meantime, will loan Pattern Energy up to $260 million (to be repaid over
20 years). The total cost of the wind farm—located about 100 kilometres
south of Winnipeg—is estimated to be about $345 million.

The first turbines are expected to be producing electricity by the end
of 2010. When finished in the spring of 2011, there will be 60 wind
turbines, each producing up to 2.3MW and covering an area of 125 km2 in
the rural municipalities of Montcalm and Rhineland.

“We are pleased to support the addition of another renewable energy
source for Manitoba at a price that is very favourable for Manitobans,”
said Bob Brennan, president and CEO of Manitoba Hydro.

“Manitoba’s electricity supply is already 98% renewable, and this new
wind farm will help ensure that we continue to build on that solid
foundation,” said Selinger. “This wind farm will also provide a boost in
the economy of southern Manitoba and create new opportunities and
jobs.”

The St. Joseph proposal was selected from among 84 bids and will be the
second wind farm in Manitoba. Manitoba’s first wind farm, located near
St. Leon and producing 100MW of electricity, became fully operational in
2006.