Manitoba’s Merit-Based Program: 32 projects approved under first round
Backgrounder
Manitoba’s Merit-Based Program funds projects aimed at the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions, including transitions from the combustion of fossil fuels to renewable energy within the province. The Manitoba Merit-Based Program is funded through Canada’s Low Carbon Economy Fund (LCEF) and the Province of Manitoba. The program was launched in the spring of 2023.
Summary of round-one projects:
- Manitoba has executed agreements with 32 recipients under round one of the Merit-Based Program, representing a total investment of nearly $10.9 million, with $9.4 million provided from the federal government and $1.5 million from the provincial government.
- Merit Program round-one projects include 24 agricultural businesses across the province. Many agricultural businesses use grain-drying systems fired by natural gas or propane, and on-farm grain transfer and handling systems that use diesel-powered equipment.
- Merit Program funding will help support essential upgrades to more efficient fuels or zero emissions, renewable, electricity-driven systems for these agricultural projects, providing significant greenhouse gas emissions reductions.
Below is the list of the 32 approved projects under the first round:
| Recipient | Project Description | Total Amount of Funding from the Manitoba Merit-Based Program |
|---|---|---|
| Agricultural Business Projects | ||
| Rosebank Colony Ltd. | Fuel switch: from propane to biomass boiler upgrade agricultural project | $280,000 |
| MPS Farms Ltd. | Fuel switch: from diesel to electrical grain-dryer agricultural project | $242,422 |
| Stoesz Acres Ltd. | Efficiency gain: for grain dryer and diesel to electric grain-handling agricultural project | $144,200 |
| Bar H Farms Ltd. | Efficiency gain: for grain dryer and diesel to electric grain-handling agricultural project | $363,563 |
| Enns Cattle Co. | Fuel switch: from diesel to electric grain handling, agricultural project | $54,250 |
| Foothill Farms Ltd. | Efficiency gain: for grain dryer and fuel switch from diesel to electric grain handling, agricultural project | $144,744 |
| B. Elder Farms Ltd. | Fuel switch: from diesel to electric grain dryer and handling, agricultural project | $106,338 |
| Kelly Grain Ltd. | Fuel switch: from diesel to electric grain dryer and handling, agricultural project | $610,887 |
| Rocky Hill Holding Company Ltd. | Fuel switch: from propane boiler to electric hydronic system, agricultural project | $143,775 |
| Hammond Agriculture Ltd. | Fuel switch: from diesel to electric grain dryer, agricultural project | $61,181 |
| J&G Wilson Farms Ltd. | Efficiency gain: grain-dryer upgrade and fuel switch from diesel to electric grain handling, agricultural project | $265,934 |
| RC Hodgson Farms Ltd. | Efficiency gain: grain-dryer upgrade and fuel switch from diesel to electric grain handling, agricultural project | $140,000 |
| RP Brunel Inc. | Fuel switch: from diesel to electric grain drying and handling, agricultural project | $66,131 |
| Sean McIntosh Farms Ltd. | Fuel switch: from diesel to electric irrigation reservoir, agricultural project | $66,913 |
| Ash Haven Farms Ltd. | Efficiency gain: for grain-drying upgrade and fuel switch from diesel to electrical grain handling, agricultural project | $48,536 |
| 4M Farms Ltd. | Fuel switch: from diesel to electric grain-handling, agricultural project | $206,500 |
| Russel Grains 3000 Ltd. | Efficiency gain: for grain-dryer upgrade and fuel switch from diesel to electric grain handling, agricultural project | $565,635 |
| GPW Farms Ltd. | Fuel switch: from diesel to electric grain handling, agricultural project | $208,600 |
| Irv Toews Farms Ltd. | Fuel switch: from diesel to electric grain handling, agricultural project | $104,057 |
| New Rosedale Colony Farms Ltd. | Fuel switch: from diesel to electric-powered irrigation system, agricultural project | $215,931 |
| Rutherford Farms Ltd. | Fuel switch: from diesel to electrical grain handling, agricultural project | $166,682 |
| Voesenek Farms Ltd. | Fuel switch: from natural gas to biomass grain drying, agricultural project | $616,000 |
| SKT Farms Inc. | Fuel switch: from diesel to electric grain handling, agricultural project | $92,750 |
| Mark Guenther Farms | Efficiency gain: for grain-dryer upgrade and fuel switch from diesel to electric grain handling, agricultural project | $396,716 |
| Not-for-Profit Projects | ||
| Crossways in Common Inc. | Fuel switch: from natural gas to electric boilers, solar-assist project | $453,472 |
| UWCRC Inc. | Winnipeg Balmoral Street, net-zero fuel switch: self-generated clean energy, transitional housing project | $710,120 |
| 10072901 Manitoba Association Inc. | Winnipeg 308 Colony Street, net-carbon zero high-rise apartment building project | $2,360,914 |
| Market Lands Inc. | Net-carbon, zero residential, mixed-use medium-rise building project | $964,325 |
| Municipal Projects | ||
| City of Winnipeg | Geothermal heating and cooling, fire station project | $179,000 |
| City of Flin Flon | Whitney forum arena boiler upgrade from natural gas to electric project | $139,429 |
| Provincial Projects | ||
| Manitoba Housing | Fuel switch: propane to electrical furnace, Churchill townhouse project | $445,000 |
| Manitoba Shared Health | Churchill Block B residential building propane to electric boiler fuel project | $371,432 |
| 32 Recipient Projects | Total maximum funding | $10,935,437 |