Fossil fuel freedom in Manitoba

The Gallon Environment Letter states that Manitoba is adopting a Clean Energy Strategy announced November 20, 2012 by Innovation, Energy and Mines Minister Dave Chomiak who said, “Building on our strengths, this new plan sets the province on a course that will ensure reliable, affordable energy for future generations, reduce greenhouse-gas emissions and maximize local economic benefits.” Previous decisions have focussed on hydro electricity rather than coal-fired power plants resulting in a power grid which is said to be 98% renewable.

The press release for the strategy lists the following as highlights:

• “Canada’s first Pay-as-You-Save (PAYS) financing program that covers the upfront capital costs of energy-efficiency upgrades based on the utility cost savings;
• a biomass energy-support program that will help Manitoba’s remaining coal users transition to renewable and locally grown biomass energy;
• Manitoba’s Electric Vehicle Road Map that will facilitate the adoption of all-electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles; and
• the Green Energy Equipment Tax Credit for geothermal and solar-thermal heating.”

The Pay as You Save initiative goes along with other encouragements towards energy efficiency and an 8-year green plan TomorrowNow said to lead to a prosperous and an environmentally conscious economy. Manitoba Hydro pays for upgrades to heating, insulation and home water heating and then the householders (starting with single family homes) pay back from the energy savings. The interest rate will be fixed at 3.9 per cent for the first five years. Examples include high-efficiency gas furnaces, geothermal systems, insulation, drain-water heat recovery systems and water-saving toilets.