The provincial government announced agreements worth billions of dollars have been inked to sell electricity to the U.S.

On Wednesday, Premier Greg Selinger said Manitoba Hydro had signed agreements to sell electricity to Minnesota Power and the Wisconsin Public Service.

Combined with an earlier sales deal with Northern States Power, the three agreements are worth an estimated $4 billion, said the province.

"I am very pleased that Manitoba Hydro is moving forward with these power sales which will significantly increase our exports and lead to further development of Manitoba's renewable hydro power resources," said Selinger.

The energy sales, slated to cover the 2021 – 2027 period for Wisconsin and the 2020 – 2035 period for Minnesota, will require the creation of new hydroelectric generating capacity. The agreements will spur the development of the Keeyask Generating Station, along the lower Nelson River, about 175 kilometres northeast of Thompson, said the province.

Manitoba's Hydro construction plans also include the Bipole III transmission line scheduled to go into service in 2017 "to provide reliability for Manitoba customers," said the province.