Alberta unveiled new rules on Wednesday for renewable energy projects, effectively banning wind and solar on large swaths of agricultural lands and in areas that could obstruct the province’s majestic Rocky Mountain views.
The region, known for sunshine and strong winds, has led Canada in renewable energy development, home to nearly $5 billion in new capital investment since 2019, according to the Pembina Institute, a nonprofit agency focused on the energy sector.
Before announcing the new rules, the Alberta government had come under fire for pausing all new renewables projects over the past six months while it assessed their reliability and impacts on the landscape and power grid.
Critics said that risked a chill on investment, which the province rejected. The move also challenged the federal government’s ambitions for a net-zero power grid by 2035.
At a news conference in Edmonton, Premier Danielle Smith said that moratorium would be lifted March 1, while announcing new regulations on the sector going forward.
She said new projects will not be permitted on prime agricultural lands — about 28 million acres — unless the landowner can show that turbines or panels can coexist alongside crops or livestock.
There will also be a 35-kilometre buffer around some viewscapes. These areas were not immediately defined, but views of the Rocky Mountains, protected environmental areas and other “beautiful natural features” were touted by officials as examples.
“We need to ensure that we’re not sacrificing our future agricultural yields or tourism dollars or breathtaking viewscapes to rush renewables development through,” Smith said.
Alberta produces more than 80 per cent of Canada’s total oil output and generates most of its electricity from natural gas.
Smith said it will have to double its baseload power generation by 2050 to meet soaring demand.
The Alberta and Saskatchewan governments have both called the 2035 target for a net-zero power grid unrealistic and are aiming instead for 2050.
According to the Pembina Institute, 64 companies and partnerships with plans for 118 projects in Alberta worth more than $33 billion had been left hanging by the moratorium.
Alberta Utilities Minister Nathan Neudorf said Wednesday there are currently 26 renewable projects awaiting approval.
He added that, despite the moratorium, Alberta accounted for 92 per cent of all new renewable energy and energy storage projects in Canada last year.
