Renewable energy developmentsĀ in Alberta to face strict new rules
The Alberta government has introduced a raft of new rules for future wind and solar development in the province.
Last August, the province paused renewable development to allow the Alberta Utilities Commission, the agency which evaluates and approves electricity generation projects, to hold an inquiry on land use, reclamation and grid reliability.
The changes were announced Wednesday by Premier Danielle Smith and Utilities Minister Nathan Neudorf.
Some of the changes include:
-
Alberta will no longer permit renewable generation developments on Class 1 land (soils with no significant limitations in use for crops) or Class 2 land (soils with moderate limitations that restrict the range of crops or require moderate conservation practices) unless the proponent can demonstrate the ability for both crops and/or livestock to coexist with the renewable generation project.
-
Developers will be responsible for reclamation costs via bond or security.
-
Buffer zones of a minimum of 35 kilometres will be established around protected areas and other “pristine viewscapes” as designated by the province.
-
New wind projects will no longer be permitted within those buffer zones. Other proposed developments located within the buffer zone may be subject to a visual impact assessment before approval.
-
Any development of renewable development on Crown lands will be on a case-by-case basis.
-
Municipalities will automatically have the right to take part in AUC hearings.
The seven-month moratorium was largely panned by industry players.
The government-imposed moratorium was a response to what has been an explosion of growth in the province’s renewable energy in recent years.
In 2022, 75 per cent of all new wind and solar projects in Canada were built in Alberta, thanks to the province’s sunny skies, abundance of wind and unique deregulated electricity market.
But the rapid growth led to questions from rural communities about who would be on the hook to clean up renewable energy infrastructure as well as concerns around the use of food-producing agricultural land for renewable energy development.
The pause on final approvals will lift on Feb. 29.
More to come.
WATCH | Alberta pauses new renewable energy projects:
View original article here Source