Alberta Record

· Order in Council / Electric Energy Land Use and Visual Assessment Regulation · in-force

Electric energy land use visual assessment regulation

This Order in Council enacts the Electric Energy Land Use and Visual Assessment Regulation, establishing new requirements for agricultural and visual impact assessments for wind and solar power plants, designating specific zones, and restr…

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What changed

  • The Electric Energy Land Use and Visual Assessment Regulation is created under the Alberta Utilities Commission Act.
  • Applicants for wind or solar power plants on privately owned high-quality agricultural land must submit an agricultural impact assessment.
  • Owners or operators of wind or solar power plants on high-quality agricultural land must report on agricultural productivity within 36 months of operation start.
  • The Alberta Utilities Commission (AUC) may require irrigability assessments for power plants proposed within the White Area.
  • Specific geographic areas are designated as "buffer zones" and "visual impact assessment zones" in Schedules 2 and 3 of the regulation.
  • Applications for power plants within designated buffer zones or visual impact assessment zones require a visual impact assessment.
  • The AUC is prohibited from accepting applications for the construction or operation of a wind power plant within a designated buffer zone.

Why it matters

  • Introduces new provincial-level regulatory requirements for the siting and approval of wind and solar power projects in Alberta.
  • Centralizes decision-making regarding land use for renewable energy projects by establishing specific zones and restrictions.
  • Prioritizes agricultural land use and visual aesthetics in designated areas, potentially influencing the economic viability of certain projects.
  • Directly restricts the development of wind power plants in specific buffer zones, limiting options for developers.
  • Expands the scope of assessments required for renewable energy projects, potentially increasing development timelines and costs.

Other governance concerns

  • Increased regulatory burden on renewable energy developers.
  • Potential for reduced investment in wind power in designated buffer zones.
  • Provincial government setting specific land use restrictions that impact the Alberta Utilities Commission's approval process.

Primary sources (1)

Secondary sources (3)