Alberta's renewable energy pause could become lingering stumble, observers say

It was just supposed to be a pause, a breather for an overburdened regulator and concerned public to catch up with an industry growing beyond expectations.

But for those who study the renewable electricity industry, as well as for those in it, the six-month moratorium on project approvals slated to come off in February could turn out to be a crucial stumble that costs Alberta its lead, perhaps forever.

"It's unlikely to think this kind of pause and decision will have no impact on investment," said Sara Hastings-Simon of the University of Calgary's School of Public Policy. "It's hard to know how large [the impact] is, but we're in a competitive market to attract capital."

As recently as last summer, the sun shone bright and the breezes were favourable for Alberta renewables. The Business Renewable Centre, a group that links buyers and producers of renewable energy, said Alberta was on track to see $3.7 billion worth of construction by the end of this year, creating more than 4,500 jobs.

Then, in August, Alberta's United Conservative government announced a moratorium on approvals for all wind, solar and geothermal projects greater than one megawatt. The announcement was made suddenly, without consultation.

Government officials initially said the pause was made at the request of rural municipalities and the Alberta Utilities Commission. When it turned out no such requests had been made, the move was justified by concerns over reclamation, destruction of farmland and despoiling of what the government called "pristine viewscapes."

Premier Danielle Smith has since expressed public doubts over renewables, calling them a "fantasy" and suggesting they are unreliable and expensive. She mused about creating a Crown corporation specifically to fund natural gas-fired power generation.

"They've been pretty clear in their public messaging," said Tim Weis, a professor in the University of Alberta's engineering faculty. "There seems to be a lot of direct attacks on renewables."

It has eroded trust, said Claude Mindorff of PACE Canada, a company behind several solar projects in Alberta, including a stalled 14-megawatt installation outside of the village of Caroline.

"I feels like there's underlying agendas on the part of the government," he said.

Weis said the pause's end date of Feb. 24 doesn't necessarily signal a return to normal.

The Alberta Utilities Commission has another month after that to complete an inquiry into the industry. Then the government has to digest and implement the recommendations.

"If [it has] announced that we need another two or three years to figure out the rules, that's going to add to the uncertainty," Weis said.

Meanwhile, other jurisdictions are making moves. Nova Scotia, Ontario, Quebec and British Columbia are opening their doors to more renewable power — not to mention the vast U.S. appetite for investment capital.