New Wind Power Facility Unveiled

Minnedosa -- - Manitoba Hydro has unveiled its first wind monitoring facility near Minnedosa, one of seven sites that will gather specific information about wind conditions in the province. The wind monitoring process will assist in determining the best location for potential future wind turbines for generating electricity.

Premier Gary Doer, Minister of Energy, Science and Technology Tim Sale, and Bob Brennan, President and CEO of Manitoba Hydro participated in the official unveiling of the 60 metre wind monitoring tower, located just south west of Minnedosa, along highway 10.

"Our government recognizes that the development of clean energy sources benefits the environment while providing economic development opportunities for our province," said Doer. "We congratulate Manitoba Hydro for having the vision to examine wind power generation and the benefits it brings with it. The corporation's leadership reinforces Manitoba's reputation as a leader in the development of clean energy."

"Wind power generation represents a promising opportunity for Manitoba and for the future," said Tim Sale, Minister responsible for Manitoba Hydro. "These monitoring sites will provide us with the information to make informed decisions about the future of wind power in Manitoba. We look forward to the results as we continue to develop and build upon our clean energy resources."

Hydro President and CEO Bob Brennan said that the utility is interested in exploring the potential for wind energy to add to its portfolio of energy supplies serving Manitobans. "Wind production complements our hydroelectric system, particularly in low water years and we want to assess the economic and technical issues of utilizing renewable wind power to provide an additional source of electricity production."

The tower will gather weather data for a period of at least a year. Mounted on it are five anonometers to record wind speed data at different heights, as well as three wind vanes, one barometer and one temperature gauge. The weather data is logged on an ongoing basis and downloaded daily for analysis. Consistent, high wind speed is the critical element in assessing the suitability of any particular location for placement of a wind turbine.

Modern wind turbines are sized to produce about .66 to 2.5 megawatts of electricity, and are usually clustered in "wind farms" made up of 10 to 300 turbines. A one-megawatt wind turbine produces enough electrical energy to supply about 250 residences.

A second monitoring site near Grandview is expected to be operational by April 12. The land acquisition phase for the remaining five sites is underway, with all the towers expected to be up and running by June.