Manitoba is known as the hydro province, with about 95 per cent of the electricity we generate coming from clean, renewable water energy. Manitoba Hydro, headquartered in Winnipeg, serves more than 485,000 customers throughout the province.

Virtually all electricity generated by Manitoba Hydro is from self-renewing water power. Capital assets in service are more than $8 billion, making the company the fourth-largest energy utility in Canada.

Manitoba relies less on fossil fuels than much of North America. This is largely due to Manitoba Hydro's ability to offer abundant, low-cost, clean and renewable hydro-electric energy. A capacity of over 5,000 megawatts (MW) annually, encompasses hydraulic generating stations, including the two Winnipeg Hydro stations and two thermal generating facilities mainly used for backup. Manitoba Hydro also has another 5,000 MW of untapped hydroelectric generation potential, for future development.

These capabilities place Manitoba in an excellent position to build on its industrial strengths. At the same time, as demand for hydro power increases significantly in a post-carbon world, Manitoba is well placed to boost its hydro exports.

Climate change is creating new risks globally, but also offers important economic opportunities as the world moves inevitably toward cleaner energy. The recent adoption of the Kyoto Protocol by the federal government presents a number of exciting opportunities to develop industries in Manitoba that are innovative and environmentally responsible. The government is determined to make Manitoba a leader in the development of alternative energy technologies for an environmentally cleaner future.

Under the Energy Development Initiative (EDI), the government and Manitoba Hydro are seeking strengthened partnerships to promote strategic development of other alternative energies such as ethanol, hydrogen and biomass. The federal government, First Nations and local industries are all potential participants. Other initiatives include solar power, geothermal energy, wind generation, along with ethanol production and use, which are expected to reduce tailpipe emissions of greenhouse gases and other environmental irritants.

Also visit the following sections:

• Manitoba's OEM Advantages
• Industry Sector Summaries