The government of the Canadian province of Alberta has announced its plan to support installation of additional 5GW of renewable energy capacity to reach its clean energy target.
While announcing its climate plan in November 2015, Alberta said that renewables would account up to 30% of the total power generation by 2030.
Alberta Environment and Parks Minister Shannon Phillips said that the targeted energy will be generated from renewable sources such as wind, hydro and solar, and will be achieved through Renewable Electricity Program.
According to estimates, Alberta is required to invest at least C$10.5bn ($7.97bn) into the provincial economy by 2030 to meet the target which would result in the creation of at least 7,200 new jobs.
Phillips added: “These targets provide clarity for Albertans, industry, Indigenous communities, municipalities and all stakeholders, and will help us reduce greenhouse gas emissions and grow our economy.”
The Renewable Electricity Program, which will be run by the Alberta Electric System Operator (AESO), involves solicitation of proposals for projects with at least 5MW capacity.
It will also ensure that the future projects do not impact reliability of the grid and is cost-effective.
Alberta-based power firm TransAlta president and CEO Dawn Farrell said: “We know there are many opportunities in hydro, wind and solar that will help us reach the goal.”
The province plans to release further details of the new program later this year.
Canadian Wind Energy Association president Robert Hornung said: “The decision sends a clear signal to investors that Alberta remains committed to attracting significant new investments in cost-competitive wind energy.”
Image: Alberta plans to generate 30% of its total power from renewable sources by 2030. Photo: courtesy of franky242/FreeDigitalPhotos.net.