Inching Toward Greener Pastures: Alberta's New Solar Energy Program

As the Canadian renewable energy story evolves from feed-in tariffs, mega-projects and government industrial support in the East – to freer markets, "right-size" projects and technology innovation in the West, industry players are adapting to change and redefining how to participate in the new energy policy paradigm. Many would cite the Alberta Renewable Electricity Program (the "AREP") as emblematic of Canada's newer approach. The Alberta Electric System Operator is implementing AREP, Alberta's first substantive renewables program, by using a competitive procurement approach and "right-sizing" it by adopting a phased-procurement approach to add 5,000 MW of wind over the relatively long period of 13 years.  The first tender award, aiming to secure 400 MW of projects, will be coming out in 2017.