WESTLOCK – Concerns over renewable electricity generation has prompted the provincial government to place a six-month moratorium on approving new renewable electricity generation projects over one megawatt, which includes a proposed solar power project just north of the Town of Westlock.
The announcement made Aug. 3 will see the Alberta Utilities Commission (AUC) hold an inquiry into “the ongoing economic, orderly and efficient development of electricity generation in Alberta” and during such time will pause approvals of power plants and hydro developments that produce renewable electricity greater than one megawatt between Aug. 3 and Feb. 29, 2024.
The Westlock-area project, located two kilometres north of town, is being proposed by Acestes Power ULC and is expected to be in operation by the end of 2024. The project will produce up to 24 MWs of power into the local electric distribution grid and includes approximately 55,000 modules installed on a single-axis tracking system.
According to the company’s managing consultant Clyde Carr, who was on hand for an open house on the project in Westlock in March, the company has yet to submit their application to the AUC and cited delays, although it was slated to be tendered in April with an anticipated approval date by late summer.
“We’re just waiting for the environmental reviews to be completed by Alberta Environment and Parks,” said Carr Aug. 10. “That’s where things are at. We’re waiting for the AEP’s environmental review to be completed and then we’ll be ready to submit to the AUC.”
The moratorium is in direct response to a letter received from the AUC July 21, and concerns raised from municipalities and landowners related to responsible land use and the rapid pace of renewables development. It is expected that 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.
“Participants in our public hearings have increasingly raised concerns about the impacts and pace of renewable generation development,” said AUC chair Carolyn Dahl Rees, via a press release Aug. 3. “We are pleased to support the government in canvassing relevant issues for its development of policy to ensure the economic, orderly and efficient development of electricity generation in Alberta.”
The AUC’s 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. It will also inform government policy decisions around the ongoing economic, orderly and efficient development of electricity generation in Alberta and will look at such issues as development of power plants on specific types or classes of agricultural or environmental land, the impact of power plant development on Alberta’s pristine viewscapes, mandatory reclamation security requirements for power plants, development of power plants on lands held by the Crown, and the impact of the increasing growth of renewables on Alberta’s generation supply mix and electricity system reliability.
An AUC spokesperson confirmed Aug. 10 that as of July 20, they have received 18 applications for power generation facilities with a total generation capacity of 1,199 MW and 264 MW of storage. In the last three months of 2022, AUC received a record number of applications for generation projects, almost all of them renewable.
They noted that when considering an application there is a nine-step review process to protect social, economic and environmental interests, while the timeline to complete a review can vary depending on the scale and complexity of applications and they aim to issue a written decision within 90 days.
Several groups, including the Rural Municipalities of Alberta (RMA), are showing support for the moratorium and inquiry.
“RMA is pleased by this decision to develop a provincewide plan for how the industry can grow strategically and responsibly,” said Rural Municipalities of Alberta president Paul McLauchlin, via a press release Aug. 3. “Rural municipalities cover roughly 85 per cent of Alberta’s land and their voices must be included in the approval process for all renewable energy projects.”
