The provincial authorities will inform Alberta’s utilities regulator to droop approvals for brand spanking new renewable electrical energy initiatives like wind and photo voltaic farms, whereas they research gaps within the present growth guidelines.
Affordability and Utilities Minister Nathan Neudorf mentioned the six-month pause is required to make clear how agricultural land can be utilized to construct energy vegetation, in addition to the expectations for land reclamation over the long run.
The Alberta Utilities Fee (AUC), the company accountable for making choices about electricity-generation initiatives, has been instructed to carry an inquiry on land use and reclamation points, and report again to the federal government early subsequent 12 months.
Neudorf informed CBC Information that the break will have an effect on 15 initiatives presently below assessment by the AUC. However he mentioned the province desires to get forward of points which have been raised by municipalities and landowners, and assist corporations perceive the total scope of their tasks amid a wave of recent renewable vitality initiatives.
“We now have numerous solar, we now have numerous wind, and we all know that we’re a sexy place to land for that,” Neudorf mentioned.
“So let’s simply ensure that the bottom guidelines are clearly established and our governing our bodies even have the insurance policies in place.”
With accelerating renewable vitality growth throughout Alberta, many communities have questioned why there isn’t extra oversight for decommissioning the infrastructure on the finish of its lifespan, so native residents or municipalities don’t get left holding the invoice.
In a letter to the minister dated July 21, AUC chair Carolyn Dahl Rees mentioned the fee is processing “a traditionally excessive quantity” of wind, photo voltaic and thermal energy plant functions, and their present course of doesn’t have the instruments to cope with points like growth on high-value agricultural land.
Neudorf mentioned he desires the pause to be seen as an indication of collaboration with native communities and the renewable-energy trade — not a message that Alberta doesn’t welcome photo voltaic and wind infrastructure.
“We hope it truly offers readability and transparency that we wish these initiatives,” he mentioned.
The pause applies solely to energy vegetation over one megawatt, and the province says the method received’t have an effect on putting in renewable-energy merchandise in native houses and communities.