The Globe and Mail reports in its Monday, Nov. 13, edition that Alberta's likely direction to overhaul renewable energy development is taking shape. The Globe's Emma Graney writes that renewable project approvals have been on ice in the province since August, when the United Conservative government abruptly ordered the Alberta Utilities Commission to halt application green lights and to review issues around reclamation, view scapes, and what agricultural land can be used for wind, solar, geothermal and biomass plants. The AUC has until March to return to the government with recommended changes. Dozens of recommendations are contained in a series of consultant reports about land impact issues, posted Friday to the AUC website. The AUC commissioned the analyses as part of its inquiry into rules that govern the province's renewable industry. They will be used to inform public feedback during the review.
While the reports have brought optimism that the commission will wrap up its inquiry in a timely manner, industry and experts worry that adopting some of the recommendations will lead to an unfair system where renewable energy projects are subject to rules that do not apply to oil, gas and other industries.
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