Letters, Oct. 24

A little background info

Re: Bring Power Smart home (Think Tank, Oct. 21)

Steven Fletcher’s op-ed column overlooks important history behind Efficiency Manitoba and the need to reconsider its targets.

In December 2003, Gary Doer’s NDP government announced plans for a separate agency to co-ordinate energy efficiency, water conservation and waste reduction. Provisionally named Efficiency Manitoba in 2004, the initiative became Green Manitoba, a special operating agency launched in April 2006.

However, Manitoba Hydro opposed transferring its Power Smart programs and was allowed to retain them.

In 2014, following hearings into Hydro’s northern development plans, including Keeyask and Conawapa, the Public Utilities Board recommended transferring electricity and natural gas demand-side management (DSM) to an independent agency. The PUB cited the inherent conflict of interest in having a utility sell energy while encouraging customers to consume less.

Greg Selinger’s NDP government accepted the recommendation in July 2014 and committed to establishing an independent agency. Brian Pallister’s Progressive Conservatives, elected in April 2016, shut down Green Manitoba in April 2017, claiming $1 million in savings. Ironically, the same government then enacted legislation establishing today’s Efficiency Manitoba.

Unfortunately, the prolonged transition from Hydro’s Power Smart programs to Efficiency Manitoba’s April 2020 launch and subsequent start-up cost energy conservation efforts considerable momentum.

Fletcher raises legitimate questions about Efficiency Manitoba’s performance against its legislated savings targets. Yet he overlooks the PUB’s 2020 recommendation to revisit those targets through integrated resource planning led by Hydro.

With Manitoba facing a projected winter electricity capacity shortfall by 2030 and Hydro proposing $3 billion in gas turbines, expanded, cost-effective DSM deserves greater attention for its potential to defer new generation investments and ease pressure on rates.

Efficiency Manitoba’s mandate and performance deserve review. But transferring DSM back to Hydro requires compelling evidence of savings, a plan to improve programs without further disruption, and safeguards against the conflict of interest identified by the PUB.

Ken Klassen

Winnipeg

Novel EV charging approach

Re: Hydro eyes EV charging mitigation amid electricity shortfall forecast (Oct. 21)

Electric vehicles do not have to be a problem for Manitoba’s energy capacity shortage — they could be part of the solution.

Manitoba Hydro states that we do not have the battery capacity to support renewable energy to meet our energy needs during certain peak hours, and electric vehicles are giant batteries on wheels.

Vehicle-to-grid (V2G) systems take power from electric vehicles and contribute it back to the grid when extra power is needed. The technology exists and is used elsewhere in Canada, and with the right infrastructure and incentives, it could be a powerful tool to increase Manitoba’s energy capacity during peak hours.

Vehicle owners with predictable schedules (e.g., commuters, delivery companies, buses) could provide their schedules to Hydro, then whenever they plug into properly configured chargers, the V2G system would pull from their vehicles during peak hours and charge them during off hours, ensuring their vehicles have the necessary charge when needed. Vehicle owners would then be compensated for the energy they contribute, priced based on the demand. Proper incentives could even encourage fleet owners to shift their schedules to ensure the grid can draw from their vehicles during peak hours.

It’s not an easy solution, it requires high EV adoption, installing proper charging infrastructure, vehicle owner buy-in, and good software and data. But, EV adoption is increasing, and many EV owners are already paying to get charging systems installed. What Hydro should do now is encourage those EV owners (especially fleet owners) to install V2G-compatible charging systems and start procuring or developing the software necessary to properly use the capacity of those vehicles.

Christian Le Breton

Headingley

It’s about time

Re: Police HQ report ‘outrageous’: Kinew (Oct. 21)

For over a decade, Winnipeggers have been angry and frustrated by the police headquarters debacle — angry about what Premier Wab Kinew called “people in business who (ripped off Winnipeggers) to the tune of $43.3 million” and frustrated by the inability of “the system” to fully hold those responsible accountable. It has shaken the confidence of Winnipeggers in the honesty and competence of politicians, the bureaucracy and others. This inquiry has been an important step on the road to restoring that confidence.

Thanks to Premier Kinew, who initiated the public inquiry, and inquiry commissioner Garth Smorang there is now much more transparency and there may be more accountability coming.

There are also many others to thank, including those whose work provided the information (going back to 2010) Smorang required for his review. Further kudos to Smorang for completing the inquiry within budget and with fewer hearing days than scheduled.

A shout-out to the Free Press is also in order, for devoting the resources to fully cover the inquiry, and to reporter Joyanne Pursaga and her colleagues, who attended hearings and provided excellent reportage of this lengthy and complicated process.

As a bonus and as a direct result of these combined efforts, Prosecution Services is examining whether new information has come to light that will justify commencing criminal proceedings.

Robert (Bob) Pruden

Winnipeg

How dare they

Re: U.S. embassy accuses Canadian politicians of interfering in American elections (Oct. 21)

Americans don’t decide American elections. Billionaires and super PACs decide American elections. Politically motivated programs which package opinion as news and spoonfeed it to voters decide American elections. Stoking fears and creating hatred decides American elections.

Americans helping fund the Freedom Convoy and offering Alberta separatists billions of dollars in to help them achieve their goals is foreign interference.

So why are we in their crosshairs? Because the Republicans already know they are going to lose. This is nothing more than pre-emptive blame and future justification for anything that follows.

If Canada is so weak and of such little consequence to the United States as Trump and his supporters say we are, why are we now a threat to their democracy?

Brian Spencler

Winnipeg