Ontario and Manitoba move forward with new hydro project
Parties Sign Memorandum of Understanding to Examine Feasibility of
East-West Grid and Development of Conawapa
KAKABEKA FALLS, ON, June 20 /CNW/ - Ernie Eves, Ontario's Premier, and Manitoba Premier Gary Doer today joined forces to develop a clean source of electric power that could help meet Canada's energy requirements, strengthen its transmission infrastructure and promote energy self-sufficiency.
Eves and Doer officially signed a Memorandum of Understanding to support a feasibility study to be conducted by Hydro One and Manitoba Hydro on the 1,250-megawatt Conawapa hydro generating station, which will be located on Manitoba's Nelson River. The study will also look at the construction of a high-voltage transmission line between the two provinces.
"Our government is committed to ensuring that Ontarians have a supply of power today, tomorrow and into the future," said Eves. "Today's announcement is an important first step in a project that will help us meet those needs and provide tremendous benefits for the people of Ontario and Manitoba."
"Today's agreement takes us one step closer to the construction of an east-west transmission corridor and the development of Conawapa," said Doer.
"We are confident that the study will provide the financial and technical justification and sound business case upon which to proceed. We look forward to working with Ontario on this initiative, which will yield significant benefits for both our provinces while helping to meet our commitments under the Kyoto Protocol."
Construction of the project could create an estimated $5.5 billion in investments, jobs and spinoff opportunities for firms in Manitoba and Ontario.
As well, the project could displace as much as one-sixth of the greenhouse gases produced annually by Ontario's coal-fired generating stations, which are scheduled to be retired by 2015.
The study will evaluate the technical and financial aspects of the
project. In addition, both provinces have also agreed to work together on a study that will examine the social and economic aspects of the project. The study should be completed by the end of 2003.
The federal government has indicated its support for the feasibility study and both provinces will continue to work with the government in Ottawa to determine their level of support for the project.