Wind power, contrary to other forms of generating electricity, doesn't flood forests, blow pollution out of smokestacks, or operate with the constant threat of a nuclear accident. Wind turbines are even known to kill fewer birds than a good farm cat.

But besides the fact it's one of the cleanest industries out there, it does have a number of other potential benefits to Manitoba.

It's quick and easy to add to the power supply, it's a nice compliment to hydrological power, it makes money for rural landowners, it creates jobs, and, well, wind is cheap and we have lots of it.

"North Dakota bills itself as the Saudi Arabia of wind, and wind doesn't care much about the international border," said Tim Sale, the province's energy, science and technology minister.

Not only do we have a lot of wind, but we draw most of our power from hydro, and those two go hand in hand.

Wind energy is sporadic -- it produces a lot when it's windy and none when it's calm -- so a stable complimentary power source like hydro is needed. That puts Manitoba in a great situation, said Robert Hornung, president of the Canadian Wind Energy Association.

So when the wind is blowing, Manitoba Hydro can close up the dams, and when it's calm, they can open them up and let the water tear through, creating a stable power supply.

Wind power is also at its peak production in the daytime and during the winter, when hydro production is lowest and when demand for electricity is highest. It's also a nice backup in case there's a drought, said Sale.

Wind power is something that can be quickly added to the power grid, too. Whereas a dam takes up to 10 years to build, a wind farm can be built in less than a year, said Sale.