Transmission Line to Reduce Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Create more Reliable Power Supply
March 5, 2020
The federal governemnt announced funding for the Birtle Transmission Line linking Saskatchewan to Manitoba’s green, renewable energy.
This project will help Manitoba Hydro build a 230-kilovolt transmission line from Birtle South Station in the Municipality of Prairie View to the Manitoba–Saskatchewan border 46 kilometres north-west. Once completed, the new line will allow up to 215 megawatts of renewable hydroelectricity, which is currently surplus to the needs of Manitobans, to flow from the Manitoba Hydro power grid to the SaskPower power grid.
Increasing Manitoba’s interconnection to Western Canada’s power distribution grid will establish greater stability for energy supply, while keeping energy rates affordable for the province. Manitoba’s clean hydroelectricity is a vital element of Saskatchewan’s efforts to reduce cumulative greenhouse gas emissions in that province.
The Government of Canada is investing more than $18.7 million, and the Government of Manitoba is contributing more than $42 million, in this project through the Green Infrastructure Stream of the Investing in CanadaPlan.
