Renewable energy will power up to 30 per cent of Alberta’s electricity grid by 2030

Minister of Energy Margaret McCuaig-Boyd and Minister of Environment and Parks Shannon Phillips were joined today by leaders from Alberta energy and electricity companies, as well as companies looking to invest in building Alberta’s future electricity system.

These energy leaders expressed a willingness and commitment to working with the Alberta government to ensure that the transition is fair to the companies currently supplying Alberta’s electricity needs, and ensure Alberta is an attractive and competitive market place to invest in modernizing Alberta’s electricity system.

“Albertans are leaders. The plan we have put forward enables us to take real action on climate change, protect our electricity market and responsibly transition away from coal to up to 30 per cent renewable energy by 2030. This is good for our environment, good for our image in the world and good for the health of families.”

“Transitioning away from coal creates a tremendous opportunity for new investment in Alberta. Throughout the course of this phase-out, our province will see billions of dollars in new investments. While this transition takes place, our government is committed to working with the companies operating in our competitive market, as well as those looking to invest to ensure that everyone is treated fairly.”

“The AESO is confident that by working closely with government and industry, we can reliably implement the transition away from coal.”

As part of Alberta’s climate leadership plan, the government has committed to:

• Phase out of emissions from coal generated electricity by 2030.
• Diversify our supply mix by replacing reitired coal with at least two-thirds renewable energy sources.
• Appoint an independent facilitator and negotiator to help us develop and implement this plan. The work of this facilitator will be to transition Alberta away from coal generation without endangering the reliability of our electricity system.
• Keep the costs of renewables as low as possible by using market mechanisms, such as auctioning.
• Support workers employed in the coal electricity sector with opportunities to retrain for new jobs in a greener energy economy.
• Reduce greenhouse gas emissions from coal-fired electricity to zero by 2030, from current emissions of 40 megatonnes annually. That is the equivalent of taking eight million cars off the road.

Further Support for Renewable Energy in Alberta

“The appointment of a negotiator was a global game-changer. It will bring all the stakeholders to the table in a new approach that gets everyone thinking outside of their entrenched positions in order to tackle the coal and new renewables transition, that will protect taxpayers, communities and workers, as well as meet the province’s renewable energy targets. The Alberta Government has developed a rational, reasonable and balanced approach. TransAlta will too. We look forward to getting started as soon as possible.”

"To encourage private sector investment, several things need to come together: good wind resources and transmission infrastructure, financial and operating capability to build new generation and a strong policy framework that drives robust commercial structures. We see all three coming together in Alberta and this is a great first step in attracting capital to build out our renewable and natural gas capacity.  We're encouraged by the potential to be part of meeting what we believe to be ambitious, but achievable, targets for renewable generating capacity in the province."

“Wind energy is one of lowest cost ways to generate new electricity in Alberta and Alberta is wise to draw on its tremendous wind energy resources to help replace coal-fired electricity in the province. Alberta’s decision to move away from coal-fired electricity generation and dramatically increase its use of renewable energy demonstrates strong leadership and positions Alberta to become a wind energy leader in Canada. More renewable energy in Alberta will reduce greenhouse gas emissions, clean the air, and produce significant new investment and jobs – particularly in rural areas of the province.”

“Premier Notley’s Made-in-Alberta climate plan opens the door for billions of dollars in new renewable investment. For too long, discussions about climate change have focused on what we can’t do. But Alberta has tremendous renewable energy resources, technology costs keep falling, and it’s time to focus on what we can do. Solar energy is ready to be a big contributor to a strong and clean Alberta economy.”

"Alberta has excellent clean energy resources and Acciona is ready to help the province meet its ambitious goals and deliver clean, reliable and affordable electricity. Acciona has been invested in clean energy in Alberta for nearly a decade and we are excited about these recent developments."

“As a developer of many of Canada’s largest wind and solar projects and co-owner of Alberta’s 300MW Blackspring Ridge Wind Project, the largest wind development in Western Canada, EDF EN Canada applauds this historic announcement by the Alberta Government. We know that renewable energy is low-cost and able to deliver affordable electricity for Alberta ratepayers. With this announcement the province is well-positioned to attract billions in direct investment from corporations like EDF EN Canada, growing the green energy economy and creating well-paying jobs for Alberta families.”