Alberta takes ambitious first step in its ‘30 by 30’ plan

Province will buy 400 MW of renewable power during auction in early 2017

Alberta’s renewable energy aspirations certainly had the wind at their back this week.

The provincial government took another step forward with its so-called “30 by 30” plan—that is, a firm target of 30-percent renewable energy by the year 2030—with an announcement that Alberta will hold its first auction for renewable power contracts in early 2017.

Symbolically, Alberta’s Minister of Environment and Parks Shannon Phillips made the announcement on the final day of the Canadian Wind Energy Association’s (CanWEA) 32^nd annual conference and exhibition at Calgary’s BMO Centre.

“By directly reinvesting costs from carbon pollution into renewables, we expect to keep consumer prices low as we create the largest renewable energy market in Canada,” said Phillips, who is also the minister responsible for Alberta’s Climate Change Office.

The competition in early 2017 will see investors bidding to provide up to 400 megawatts of renewable electricity for 20 years. It’s expected that successful bidders will be announced in late 2017, with projects operational by 2019.

This 400-MW boost is the first step in Alberta’s ambitious 30 by 30 plan laid out in the Renewable Electricity Act, which was introduced in the provincial capital on Thursday. The Renewable Electricity Program aims to add 5,000 MW of renewable electricity capacity through a competitive process administered by the Alberta Electric System Operator (AESO).

The legislation accompanies Alberta’s stated intention to phase out coal-fired power in the province by 2030.

“Governments, utilities and consumers across Canada recognize that wind energy not only benefits the climate, but makes economic sense as well,” said CanWEA president Robert Hornung. “Our job now is to continue to innovate, continue to improve our technology, and lower our costs.”

The annual CanWEA conference was expected to attract nearly 1,500 attendees, along with Canadian and international wind and renewable energy experts 

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