Alberta Freezes All Approvals of Large Wind and Solar Projects, Citing Rural Concerns

Wind turbines are shown at a wind farm near Pincher Creek, Alta., in a file photo. The Canadian Press/Jeff McIntosh

The Alberta government has announced it will pause approvals of all wind and solar power projects that are greater than one megawatt.

“Alberta’s government is responding to concerns about electricity projects to ensure future growth is balanced with responsible development,” said a statement issued on Aug. 3.

The government said that the Alberta Utilities Commission (AUC) will pause approvals of new large renewable energy projects due to rural concerns until Feb. 29, 2024, and will review the policies and procedures in place for developing renewable electricity generation.

The province said this decision is in direct response to a letter received from the AUC and concerns raised by municipalities and landowners related to responsible land use and the rapid pace of renewables development.

The letter from the AUC, dated July 21, said the commission is processing a “historically high volume” of new renewable (wind and solar) and thermal power plant applications. According to the commission, the projects have raised issues: “the development of power plants on high value agricultural lands and the lack of mandatory reclamation security requirements for power plants.”

“At the end of this process, future renewable projects will be able to move forward at a pace that is conducive to business while maintaining responsible environmental stewardship and preserving Alberta’s reliable electricity supply,” said the statement.

Albertans will still be able to install renewable energy products in their homes. The province has produced significant renewable power generation, responsible for 17 percent of the province’s electricity in 2022.

Paul McLauchlin, president of Rural Municipalities of Alberta, said the decision was welcome given that rural municipalities cover about 85 percent of the province’s land and their voice has to be included in the approval process.

The AUC inquiry will include reviewing the use of agricultural land and public land for wind and solar projects, land reclamation, and the role of municipal governments in land selection for project development and review.

The inquiry is expected to consider issues such as the development of power plants on specific types of agricultural or environmental land, and the impact of power plant development on Alberta’s scenery and “pristine viewscapes.”

The review will consider mandatory reclamation security requirements for power plants, and the development of power plants on crown land, as well as the impact of the increasing growth of renewables on Alberta’s electric system reliability.

The statement said the province does not determine when or where electrical generation facilities are built, as it is the AUC—an independent, quasi-judicial agency—that is responsible for approval for all of the province’s electricity generation projects.

The AUC is currently reviewing 15 renewable, thermal, and energy storage projects. The statement notes that all utility-scale renewable generation projects in Alberta are commercially developed only on private land and can only proceed with the permission of private landowners.

The Canadian Press contributed to this report.