Alberta pauses clean energy solutions, paving way for more climate-destructive fossil fuels

Unceded xʷməθkʷəy̓əm, Sḵwx̱wú7mesh and səlilwətaɬ territories (VANCOUVER, BC) — On the heels of the hottest July ever recorded on this planet, Alberta will be pausing new approvals of renewable projects over one megawatt for the next six months.

According to Nathan Neudorf, Alberta Minister of Affordability and Utilities, the province is imposing this pause to “clarify how agricultural land can be used to build power plants, as well as the expectations for land reclamation over the long term.” The requirements for renewable developers could include mandatory security bonds, as well as paying for the clean up of projects at the end of their life cycle. Some of these same stringent requirements have yet to be expected from existing oil and gas projects in Alberta, with oil sands tailings ponds leaking chemicals like ammonia, lead, mercury, benzene and naphthenic acids, into surrounding areas and disproportionately affecting Indigenous communities.

“Minister Neudorf is imposing regulations on an industry that’s working towards bringing prosperity into communities while curbing the climate crisis, but where were these requirements for the oil and gas industry when they were polluting communities while setting the planet ablaze,” said Tzeporah Berman, International Program Director, Stand.earth. “Amid record wildfires, the hottest July ever recorded, and extreme weather impacts displacing people around the world, Alberta’s response to the climate crisis is to double down on an industry that is the largest source of emissions instead of making way for real clean energy solutions.”

United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres recently said, “the era of global warming has ended; the era of global boiling has arrived.” In the midst of a global climate crisis ramping up, this is a cautionary tale for Canada’s leaders heading into the UN General Assembly on the heels of New York Climate Week next month.

“2023 marked Canada’s worst wildfire season of the 21st century,” said Liz McDowell, Senior Campaigns Director, Stand.earth. “Governments around the world are reckoning with their decisions that got us here in the first place, and how to move us forward if they want to be taken seriously as credible leaders tackling this international-scale crisis. This can only happen in a truly equitable way if polluters have to follow the same rules that ensure communities are safeguarded from all energy projects.” 

 

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Media contact: 

Ziona Eyob, Media Director – Canada, canadamedia@stand.earth, +1 604 757 7279 (Pacific Time)