Decision by premier Danielle Smith further pits Canadian province against environmental groups pushing green energy

cross-posted from: https://lemmy.world/post/12553230

Decision by premier Danielle Smith further pits Canadian province against environmental groups pushing green energy

Alberta will block renewable energy projects on “prime” agricultural land and limit the placement of wind turbines to preserve “pristine viewscapes”, a decision that increasingly pits the western Canadian province against environmental groups pushing green energy – and the companies investing in it.

The decision, announced by the premier, Danielle Smith, and utilities minister, Nathan Neudorf, on Wednesday, follows a controversial six-month ban on new renewable energy projects that is due to expire on 29 February.

Alberta’s moratorium, announced in August, left energy companies uncertain about billions in future investment, even as the region, with its clear skies and an abundance of wind, led the country in new renewable projects.

Nearly a third of Alberta’s grid is now powered by renewables and the province has shifted away from coal at a far faster rate than expected.

  • TheFeatureCreature@lemmy.worldEnglish
    0·
    8 months ago

    and the province has shifted away from coal at a far faster rate than expected.

    Because solar and wind are dirt cheap compared to traditional energy generation methods. Using renewable energy is, put bluntly, just good business sense. If you have plentiful sun and/or wind and you’re not making use of solar or wind generation then you are pissing away good money opportunities.

    But if there is one thing the conservatives love more than resisting change, it’s sitting around doing nothing while they beg the federal government for more money so they can subsidize their failure of a fossil fuel sector. That entire province just evokes the mental image of repeatedly slamming your foot on a rake and complaining how much it hurts each time.

    • ZC3rr0r@lemmy.ca
      0·
      8 months ago

      That’s such a great depiction of Alberta’s politics it’s both funny and tragic at the same time. Alberta (and SK for that matter) could be leading the nation in non-hydro renewables if they let the market decide, but for some reason the O&G industry needs to continue to be propped up. If only they could see the opportunity staring them in the face.

      • baconisaveg@lemmy.ca
        0·
        8 months ago

        until it’s night time and they is no… wind

        Spot the person who’s never been to Alberta. It’s ALWAYS FUCKING WINDY HERE.

      • Knoxvomica@lemmy.ca
        0·
        8 months ago

        Man, even just reducing gas usage by having solar / wind even if it’s half the time, is STILL HALF THE USAGE.