Southern Alberta solar project cancelled after renewables pause

A year after the Alberta government announced a seven-month pause on renewable energy approvals, a clean energy think tank said over 50 projects in the province have been cancelled. 

The report, Creating (Un)certainty for Renewable Projects, was released this month by the Pembina Institiute, a think tank that supports renewable energy development.

The report reviews the impact of Alberta’s pause to wind, solar and geothermal energy project approvals that began last August and was lifted in February. 

According to the report, in addition to the cancelled projects, 42 are delayed with an average delay of 15 months. 

In Foothills County, the Pembina Institiute says one project was cancelled and two more are facing delays of a year or more. 

According to the report, the cancelled project is Capital Power’s Aldersyde Solar near High River. It was originally planned as a 299-megawatt (MW) project that was expected to generate $2.8 million in annual leasing and tax revenue. 

Two Elemental Energy projects, also near High River, are delayed. Combined, they would generate about 170 MW of power and have storage for 19 MW. 

Enerfin Energy Company of Canada’s 90 MW Big Rock Solar project southwest of Okotoks is going ahead, the report said. 

The pause was announced in response to concerns from municipalities and landowners over responsible land use and the rapid growth of renewable energy development in Alberta, according to the Province. 

Foothills County was in favour of the pause, citing concerns with projects being built on productive land, reclamation costs and a lack of recycling programs for solar panels.