Renewable energy program to add 5,000 megawatts of capacity by 2030, says environment minister

A renewable energy program generating wind, hydro and solar power will add 5,000 megawatts of capacity to the province's grid, according to Environment Minister Shannon Phillips.

"There will be a competitive process among wind energy companies to bid on a contract for renewable power in the province," Phillips told the Calgary Eyeopener.

"So today is sort of the first step in the realnitty-gritty details for the investment community on how we're going to move forward on that."

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The Renewable ElectricityProgram will beadministered by the Alberta Electric System Operator (AESO) andis expected to add 5,000 megawatts of renewableelectricity capacity by 2030.

Speaking Thursday morning at an annual windenergy conference in Calgary, Phillips said the program is a "key part" of the province's Climate Leadership Plan to meet its target of having30 per cent of Alberta's electricity come fromrenewables.

The first competitionwill take place in 2017, andsee investors bidding to provide up to 400 megawatts of renewable electricity.

In a statement, the province said, "Safeguards will be in place to ensure that the process is fair and transparent," andhelp limit costs to consumers.

Successful projects will befinancially supported by reinvesting a portion of the upcoming carbon tax onlarge industrialemitters.

Albertato leadnewwind development

That's helping drive record attendance atthe Canadian Wind Energy Association (CanWEA) annual conference and exhibition.

"Purely, this puts Alberta as a leader for new wind development in Canada," said conference spokesperson JeanFrancoisNolet.

"It is very positive. It's about $10-billion in investment that is coming up in this province."

And while wind technology has come a long way, some believe the Alberta plan for renewable is highly ambitious.

"It's a big issue to try and integrate wind when it's not exactly predictable all the time," said Michael Moore with the University of Calgary's School of Public Policy.

The provincial government estimates 7,200 jobs will be created in Alberta from renewable power projects.

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With files from the Calgary Eyeopener