The Province of Manitoba
The Province of Manitoba
Population: 1,148,401 (2006)
GHG Emissions: 21.2 million MtCO2e
(2006)
Targets/Goals
- Manitoba aims to meet or exceed its Kyoto goals by reducing emissions by over three megatonnes (Mts) by 2012 through in-Manitoba actions.
- The province is on track to achieve its 2012 targets and has set further targets. It plans to grow its renewable energy sector to the point where it can export power, while stabilizing its emissions. Transportation and farming together account for about 60% of the province’s carbon emissions, and the province is targeting reductions in these sectors also.
Top Actions
Energy Efficiency
- A new CAD$35 million (US$28 million) fund has been established
(using profits from Manitoba Hydros electricity exports) to target
home-efficiency upgrades especially for low-income families, and
for alternative energy research and development such as geothermal
power. Manitobas Low Income Energy Efficiency Initiative is
designed to substantially reduce energy use while lowering bills,
providing new jobs and increasing skills within lower-income
communities. Retrofits to date in 150 low-income dwellings have
saved approximately CAD$400 (US$320) per household on annual
utility cost and the province will be rolling out a province-wide
program with a target of 4,600 dwellings over the next three
years.
- The provincial government has a new Green Building Policy that
requires a minimum of LEED® Silver standards and applies to new
residential, commercial and institutional projects funded by the
Government of Manitoba, including Crown corporations and
agencies.
- Manitoba Hydros Power Smart program has a number of residential and commercial programs that act as incentives for energy efficiency. To the end of 2005/06, Power Smart efforts have achieved estimated electricity demand and energy savings of 232 MW and 1026 GWh of energy savings along with 15 million cubic metres of natural gas. Annual savings to the consumer are estimated at $28 million in electricity and $8 million in natural gas. By 2017/18 total energy savings are anticipated to be 848 MW and 2695 GWh and 140 million cubic meters of natural gas.
Renewable Energy
- In November 2008 the province announced a new 300 MW wind farm
in St. Joseph Manitoba, which will be Canadas largest wind farm
once completed. The project will generate electricity from 130
turbines, displacing 800,000 tons of greenhouse gas emissions
annually.
- Manitoba announced in 2008 a province-wide geothermal program which provides incentives and tax credits for homeowners and commercial building owners as well as financial assistance to the industry to expand their drilling capacity. Since 2000, Manitoba has quadrupled its annual rate of heat pump installations; has trained over half of Canadas heat pump installers; leads Canada in installations per capita; and geothermal heat pump industry has grown from CAD$3 million (US$2.4 million) to CAD$30 million (US$24 million) annually, during the same period.
Transportation
- Manitoba is creating a new Driving Green program that will
include measures to speed up the retirement of older vehicles,
banning the import of older high-emitting vehicles and expanded
anti-idling programs.
- New climate change legislation (2008) requires a made-in-Manitoba approach to ensure that a greater percentage of high-efficiency vehicles become part of the private fleet. A Vehicle Standards Advisory Board has been established to help determine an efficiency standard or emissions standard to take effect, in conjunction with the California standard, by 2010.
Sustainable Agriculture, Forestry and Land Use Policy
- A new Manitoba Sustainable Agriculture Practices Program will
provide technical and financial assistance to producers to reduce
on-farm GHG emissions including cropping and livestock strategies
while providing environmental, social and economic co-benefits,
including soil and water quality. In economic terms, the program
will help producers buffer the cost of moving to more sustainable
farming practices and increase resiliency on the farm. Potential
economic benefits may include reduced production costs, competitive
advantages, and credits to sell on the carbon market, lower input
costs and emerging eco-markets.
- A Climate-Friendly Farm Woodlot Practices Program will enhance carbon sequestration and ecological resilience by rejuvenating woodlots. It will also stimulate rural economic development and bioenergy crop options in Manitoba. The province will provide extension services to farm producers to implement sustainable woodlot management and build capacity for bioenergy production.
Fiscal Measures
- Manitoba has joined the Western Climate Initiative which is
developing multi-sector, market-based mechanisms including a
regional cap and trade program to achieve reduce greenhouse gas
emissions towards the regional target of 15% below 2005 levels by
2020. More recently, Manitoba also signed the Midwestern Greenhouse
Gas Accord which aims to develop market-based and multi-sector cap
and trade mechanisms to achieve reduction targets.
- A Green Business network will be formed in 2008. This group will identify fiscal mechanisms, such as tax shifting, and will compile and promote best practices and success stories that are taking place in Manitoba businesses.
Legislation
- New climate change legislation includes a new coal-reduction strategy including a tax on coal emissions and the closing down of Manitobas last remaining coal plan, measures to modernize highway traffic laws to ensure that leading-edge, low- and no-emissions vehicles can be sold and driven in Manitoba, and a requirement to meets the provincial target of 6% below 1990 emissions levels by 2012.
Links
Manitoba Climate & Green Initiatives