Minister Response: Renewable Energy Development on Agricultural Land

November 15, 2024

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• Climate Change
• Coal
• Energy
• Hydroelectric Power
• Oil and Gas
• Oil Sands
• Solar Power
• Wind Power

In response to our letter sharing our concerns on the potential limits for renewable energy development, we received the following response:

Dear Ruiping Luo:

Thank you for your September 26, 2024, letter to the Honourable RJ Sigurdson, Minister of Agriculture and Irrigation, regarding renewable energy development on agricultural land. As Minister of Affordability and Utilities, I am pleased to respond on behalf of the Government of Alberta.

The Government of Alberta supports responsible growth in the renewable energy sector. With our deregulated electricity market and commitment to reducing economic barriers, Alberta is a global leader in responsible energy development and a natural leader in renewable energy investments. We also recognize this multi-billion-dollar industry has an obligation to Albertans to grow responsibly.

Renewables are an important part of Alberta’s energy mix and our pathway to a carbon-neutral power grid by 2050. But we will not sacrifice affordability, grid reliability or our vital agricultural lands along the way.

Our government is setting a clear and responsible path forward for renewable project development to ensure our electricity grid is reliable, affordable, and sustainable. Stemming from the Alberta Utilities Commission’s (AUC) inquiry into policies and procedures of the development of renewable generation, we are working on clarifying the rules and the implementation of policy and regulatory changes for renewable energy development.

As announced earlier this year, we are collaborating with other ministries to address concerns on issues such as reclamation security, pristine viewscapes, and an agriculture first approach to land use management targeted for completion by the end of 2024. Clarifying the approach to Crown land development is slated for completion by the end of 2025.

The government recognizes this is an important issue and will continue working with the utility sector and landowners as we implement regulatory measures to improve the system.

I hope this information helps. Thank you again for writing in to share your concerns.

Sincerely,

Nathan Neudorf

Minister

cc:       Honourable RJ Sigurdson

Minister of Agriculture and Irrigation