MBiz

10 SUMMER 2024 MANITOBA'S CLEAN ENERGY FUTURE CONT. LEVERAGING RESOURCES Tracy Schmidt: "Between Manitoba Hydro and Efficiency Manitoba, Crown corporations designed to support a clean energy transition, there's a lot of opportunity to find efficiencies to reduce our greenhouse gas emis- sions and footprint. We also have a world-class wind regime, excel- lent solar resources, significant biomass feedstock to support hy- drogen production and a natural advantage in our critical mineral resource sector, which is going to help build green technology." Colleen Kuruluk: "Energy efficiency is increasingly being viewed as a 'first fuel.' Even though energy ef- ficiency reduces the amount of en- ergy you use, it can also be seen as a source of supply for homes and businesses that Manitoba Hydro can leverage, along with other forms of energy provision and pro- duction. Technically speaking, the cleanest or most sustainable form of energy is a unit you don't need to produce." Bram Strain: "Manitoba has a distinct advantage because our hydro is green and renewable, and it is how we start everything we do. Whether you're starting a manufacturing process, a goods and services company or an insurance company, whatever you do, everything starts from a green place. There are some really good natural advantages in Manitoba that we absolutely need to take advantage of and the world needs to know about." Ben Graham: "There's a targeted focus on not just the capacity that we can provide but also the reliability of that system. Manitoba Hydro is investing a lot into the future and creating even greater efficiency within our existing infrastructure. There's been a real look at what wind power can generate. It's a very cost-effective and readily available source of energy. And as battery technology advances, the ability to store energy will become even greater." – board chair, Manitoba Hydro-Electric PHOTO BY DARCY FINLEY

• Cover