Alberta's moratorium on renewable energy projects 'large mistake': national advocate
CTV
The Alberta government faced criticism Friday for its decision to pause renewable energy projects in the province for six months.
The Alberta government faced criticism Friday for its decision to pause renewable energy projects in the province for six months.
The Alberta Utilities Commission (AUC) issued a moratorium Thursday on the approval of wind and solar projects greater than one megawatt until the end of February, and will review policies and procedures for renewable electricity generation development.
Nathan Neudorf, Alberta's minister of affordability and utilities, said in a government statement Thursday the decision to halt them was made to "provide future renewable investments with the certainty and clarity required for long-term development.”
The statement also said the move to issue the moratorium came as a result of a letter from the AUC and from concerns expressed by municipalities and landowners.
An advocate for renewable energy, however, said the announcement — which she said came as a surprise and was thrust upon the industry at the last minute — is misguided and will have negative implications on the Alberta economy.
"This was, in my opinion, a large mistake and it could be costly for Alberta communities expecting revenue from these projects, for Alberta investors who are now going to have to look to other jurisdictions and for Alberta consumers who have an expectation that their electricity prices will be affordable," the Canadian Renewable Energy Association's Vittoria Bellissimo told CTV News Edmonton on Friday.
Bellissimo, president and chief executive officer of the national advocate for wind, solar and energy solutions, said Neudorf consulted with her group about the move but not until "it was going live, which is very unfortunate."
