ManSEA Prefeasibility Study
This prefeasibility study examines the availability, costs, and benefits of using biomass and other
renewable energy systems to replace at least some of the fossil fuel and grid-based electricity currently
being used to heat and power municipal and community buildings in seven participating communities in
Manitoba. Three of these communities—Brandon, De Salaberry, and Piney focused on existing buildings
and facilities. Three others—Dunnottar, Killarney, and Selkirk—focused on buildings and projects currently on the drawing board. One community—Dauphin—focused on both existing buildings and on a
planned development.
By 2050, climate change can be expected to reduce heating needs in these communities by about 15%. It can also be expected double—and perhaps even triple—air conditioning needs. As well, the new developments planned will increase the consumption of both natural gas and electricity, if they are built
with the same energy systems currently in place in Manitoba.
This study was undertaken to examine the availability, costs, and benefits of using biomass and other renewable energy systems to replace at least some of the fossil fuel and electricity currently being used to heat and power municipal and community buildings in seven participating communities in Manitoba:
• City of Brandon
• City of Dauphin
• City of Selkirk
• Rural Municipality of De Salaberry
• Rural Municipality of Killarney Turtle Mountain • Rural Municipality of Piney
• Village of Dunnottar
Numerous municipalities in Manitoba are striving to become net-zero by 2050. The communities
participating in this study—like many others in Manitoba—have begun to transition their energy consumption away from fossil fuels and towards renewable sources.
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Contact ManSEA at info@mansea.org if you have any further questions.
This prefeasibility study was undertaken by the Manitoba Sustainable Energy Association (ManSEA).
ManSEA is a non-partisan, not-for-profit community organization, with members throughout Manitoba. It encourages and supports the increased use of sustainable, renewable energy in our province. The research and writing team was lead for ManSEA by Bruce Duggan of Boke Consulting.
Manitoba Environment and Climate Change provided funding for this report.
In addition to acknowledging the support provided by the Province of Manitoba, ManSEA wishes to acknowledge the commitment and enthusiastic participation of the staff and elected officials of the communities involved in this study. They took time out of their demanding schedules to meet, contribute ideas, propose solutions, and review possibilities. They are leaders in the essential transformation away from fossil fuels which every community will need to undertake in the years and decades to come.