The Alberta government is considering legislation to enshrine its nominal target of procuring 30% of the province’s electricity from clean sources by 2030, in line with a suggestion this week in an appeal from a dozen renewable energy companies and associations, Clean Energy Canada, and the Edmonton-based Pembina Institute.
Reuters cites Alberta’s Minister Responsible for the Climate Change, Shannon Phillips, speaking “in response” to the open letter.
Noting that “the Alberta government is developing implementation mechanisms for [its] Climate Leadership Plan,” the letter stated that “legislated mandates turn informal commitments into formal obligations; any deviation from this commitment will require legislative action to unwind the scheduled increase in renewable energy penetration. This provides much greater certainty and a clear market signal.”
Asserting that “markets are most efficient where clear signals exist,” the organizations say legislating a long-term goal for clean energy penetration in Alberta’s electricity market will deliver a number of benefits. These include a less volatile energy market with increased competition among renewable providers, leading to lower power costs overall, as well as “more stable, long-term, and good paying jobs” for Albertans.
Dribbling out small annual procurements with no long-term commitment—as the province has done so far—translates into a “boom or bust strategy that will limit competition and not lead to lowest-cost renewables,” the groups warn.
