UCP energy development halt already affecting southern Alberta

Scott Alexander, project manager at Terralta, says the stoppage is already impacting a planned project.

“We were just about to apply to the AUC for a $6-million solar project in Lethbridge County which is now going to be on hold because of the moratorium from the UCP.”

Alexander says instead of scaling up in employees, the company will have to maintain the status quo. He also expects other impacts throughout the seven-month halt.

“The pause won’t be seen right now, we won’t see that economic effect immediately. But we will see it months down the road, and it will take months for them to catch up afterwards,” he says.

Alberta NDP energy critic Nagwan Al-Guneid said on Tuesday that the UCP must immediately reverse their decision to halt development.

“Danielle Smith and her government are risking Alberta’s reputation and economy with this moratorium. By blocking people from building more generation, the UCP is going to make electricity more expensive for Albertans.”

Ottawa released draft regulations Thursday aimed at cleaning Canada’s electricity grid. Which includes moving away from fossil fuels to heat homes or power vehicles.

But UCP Environment Minister Rebecca Schulz defended the move to make the halt.

“I do think that for our long-term investment certainty, the better time to address those issues is right now. To do it quickly within that six to seven-month timeline so that we can continue to be open for investments, in a much more predictable way.”

With the grid and technology always advancing, Alexander says the government is trying to maintain regulations with an ever-evolving industry.

“We do understand it, but at the end of the day it’s just, it is unfortunate that it is going to come at some cost.”

The moratorium is expected to expire at the end of February.

by Omran Wahidy

UCP energy development halt already affecting southern Alberta

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