Alberta policies have dampened investor confidence in renewables: report
Power transmission lines and wind turbines as seen with the Rocky Mountains in the background near Pincher Creek, Alta., Thursday, June 6, 2024. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jeff McIntosh
A report from clean energy think tank Pembina Institute suggests investor confidence in Alberta's renewables sector has been dampened by provincial policy moves.
The report's authors looked at the provincial electrical system operator's queue of projects waiting to connect to the grid between 2021 and 2024.
That data gave them a sense of investor interest in Alberta renewables before and after the province imposed a surprise seven-month moratorium on new wind and solar projects in 2023.
The moratorium is over, but the institute says other sources of uncertainty include a broad restructuring of the electricity market, Alberta's legal challenge to federal clean electricity regulations, limits on where wind installations can be built and new reclamation requirements.
Pembina says the number of proposed new projects in the queue last year were on par with two years earlier, before the moratorium, but more projects were cancelled than proposed last year while other jurisdictions like Australia and Texas are seeing their numbers of new projects climb.
A spokesman for Alberta Energy Minister Brian Jean says the province set a 'clear, responsible path forward' for renewables and that electricity has become more affordable and reliable over the past year.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 28, 2025.
Lauren Krugel, The Canadian Press
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