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ARTICLE · 15 MARCH 2024

Alberta Government Announces Additional Restrictions On Renewable Energy Development Rules As Pause On New Projects Ends

DLA Piper
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In August of 2023, the Alberta Government announced that it was pausing all new approvals of renewable energy (wind and solar) projects for six months pending a review...

CanadaEnergy and Natural Resources
Michael Styczen, P.Eng
Michael Styczen, P.Eng
Trevor Wong-Chor
Trevor Wong-Chor
Imran Dhanji
Imran Dhanji
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In August of 2023, the Alberta Government announced that it was pausing all new approvals of renewable energy (wind and solar) projects for six months pending a review by the Alberta Utilities Commission (the "AUC") of various matters related to renewable energy development. This measure includes reviewing the effect of renewable development on agricultural lands and "pristine viewscapes", and the need for project developers to post reclamation security.

With the pause expiring on February 27, the Alberta Government has formally announced the direction its new policy on renewables will take. The new policies will only be applied to renewable project approvals which have not yet been approved – not retroactively to approved projects.

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