Climate experts call for reset of Manitoba Hydro’s Integrated Resource Plan process: Draft materials show disregard for climate science, long-term affordability, and public input

WINNIPEG / TREATY 1 TERRITORY AND HOMELAND OF THE MÉTIS NATION — Documents released by Manitoba Hydro at the midpoint of its Integrated Resource Plan development have sparked serious concerns among climate policy experts and civil society organizations. Fifteen signatories submitted an open letter to Minister Sala, Minister Moyes, Premier Kinew, and key public officials involved in the Plan. The letter calls for a reset of the Integrated Resource Plan process to ensure it centres sound climate science, Indigenous rights, and public input.

Information about the plan indicates that Manitoba Hydro is not planning for significant near-term electrification of heating and transportation. Without action from Hydro to accommodate this shift, provincial and municipal governments, businesses, and individuals will be limited in the actions they can take to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 2030. Hydro’s long-term strategy also raises alarm because it relies on costly and unproven direct air capture technology to remove carbon at an unprecedented scale, rather than taking sufficient action to reduce emissions. The scenarios Hydro is considering would commit Manitoba to infrastructure investments that will lock in decades of emissions and escalate costs for future ratepayers and taxpayers.

“Every year of emissions counts when it comes to climate change because all those greenhouse gases go into the atmosphere. There’s nothing magic about 2050. We need a plan that starts reductions now, if we want to avoid catastrophic warming” said Lila Asher, climate policy researcher.

“Direct air capture is not a feasible solution. Not only is it unproven at scale, it takes massive amounts of electricity to operate and it’s very expensive, plus you’re left with the need to store the captured carbon deep in rocks underground, which can cause other environmental harms” explained Laura Cameron, Director of Programs and Strategy for Manitoba’s Climate Action Team.

“The draft plan does not take established climate solutions seriously. We don’t see evidence that Hydro has analyzed increased support for building retrofits beyond current levels, infrastructure encouraging active and public transportation, or wind and solar with electricity storage options. These are pieces of the puzzle that need to be front and centre,” said James Beddome, Executive Director of the Manitoba Eco-Network.

“Manitobans spoke up in the first round of engagement and emphasized that cost, the environment, and reconciliation with Indigenous Peoples are important to us,” recounted Laura Tyler, Executive Director of Sustainable Building Manitoba. “Hydro claims to be listening, but the documents show that our priorities are only considered at the tail end of the plan, and many suggestions were ignored.”

The full letter can be found here on Manitoba Eco-Network’s website: https://mbeconetwork.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/2025-04-15-Open-Letter-Regarding-Hydro-IRP-Progress-FNL.pdf

Readers can add their name to the list of signatories through the Manitoba Energy Justice Coalition website: https://www.mbenergyjustice.org/hydro_irp_open_letter

Manitoba Hydro’s February 24, 2025 Presentation to the PUB can be accessed here: https://mbeconetwork.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/25-02-24-2025-IRP-PUB-Information-Session-1-slide-deck.pdf