Manitoba Hydro is keeping the details of the potential companies involved in constructing proposed Indigenous-led wind farms confidential, despite some companies already revealing their participation. The Crown corporation has not disclosed the number of eligible companies selected to submit proposals for developing wind farms that will produce 600 megawatts of electricity.
In 2025, Manitoba Hydro initiated a formal search for companies meeting the criteria to construct wind farms, with a requirement that these projects be majority Indigenous-owned as per a program introduced by the provincial NDP government in 2024. Although the search for qualified companies has concluded, Manitoba Hydro has refrained from disclosing the number of companies that met the criteria and are now eligible to submit proposals. The submission deadline is set for July.
“We will reveal all proponents once they have finalized the framework agreement, expected to be completed by June,” stated Peter Chura, a spokesperson for Manitoba Hydro.
Some potential proponents have already made their wind farm plans public. The Manitoba Métis Federation intends to construct 30 to 35 wind turbines in partnership with the U.K.-based Renewable Energy Systems southeast of Riding Mountain National Park. Renewable Energy Systems has been acquiring land in the rural municipalities of Minto-Odanah and Rosedale for the past two years, according to Jack Park from the Manitoba Métis Federation.
While the partnership between the MMF and Renewable Energy Systems has been disclosed, Progressive Conservative Hydro critic Lauren Stone has called on Manitoba Hydro to be more transparent about other wind farm partnerships. Stone expressed concerns about the lack of community input, environmental considerations, and economic benefits assessment in these closed-door negotiations.
Adrien Sala, the NDP minister overseeing Manitoba Hydro, mentioned that details on the proponents will be made public before the requests for proposals are awarded. Sala anticipates the commencement of construction on the new wind farms in the summer of 2027, with completion projected for 2035.
Despite the timeline, Manitoba’s Climate Action Team has raised concerns about the slow progress of the projects, citing the urgency to meet the province’s increasing electricity demands. Laura Cameron, a director at the Climate Action Team, emphasized the need for expedited development to address the electricity needs effectively.