Wind is the world's fastest growing energy source with sustained world wide growth rates in excess of 25% annually. By the end of 2007, world-wide wind-generated capacity was over 94,000 megawatts (MW). Canada has about 1900 MW of installed capacity and the Canadian market is growing similar to the global market. Canada is ranked 12th overall in installed wind generating capacity and estimates suggest that wind generated electricity could represent over 3% of Canadian electricity demand by 2015 from about 1% currently. According to the Canadian Wind Energy Association, we have about 50,000 MW of developable wind resource-enough to supply about 20% of Canada's electricity supply.

Improvements in technology have lowered the cost of wind generated power, so that today, wind power can compete with traditional sources of generation. Manitoba is particularly well positioned to capture a significant portion of wind generation. Wind monitoring and data collection has confirmed that Manitoba has a world class wind resource and accessible sites. Because wind is intermittent, it must be firmed and shaped so it can be supplied to customers when they need it. Manitoba Hydro has good firming and shaping capabilities. When the wind is blowing, water can be stored in reservoirs. When the wind is calm, water is released to generate power at the dam site ensuring that customers get firm power on demand. In addition, our wind regime is most productive in the winter months when our peak demand for power occurs. Manitoba has very good access to transmission lines so we can move the energy effectively and we have an enthusiastic rural population that embraces wind development.