The province has announced that more wind and solar power will be part of its new environmental program to triple Alberta's renewable energy capacity in the next 15 years.

Minister of Energy Margaret McCuaig-Boyd and Minister of Environment and Parks Shannon Phillips made the announcement on Monday in Calgary.

The announcement is part of the new Alberta Climate Leadership Plan and includes using renewable energy to power up to 30 percent of Alberta's electricity grid by 2030.

"It will mean that there will be an incentive to build wind or solar around the province and not necessarily cluster it around one or two spots, right, in southern Alberta," said Shannon Phillips, Alberta Environment Minister.

As part of Alberta’s climate leadership plan, the government also committed to:

  • Replacing retired coal with at least two-thirds renewable energy sources.
  • Appoint an independent facilitator and negotiator to help develop and implement the plan.
  • Keep the costs of renewables as low as possible by using market mechanisms such as auctioning.
  • Support workers employed in the coal electricity sector with opportunities to retrain for new jobs in a greener energy economy.
  • Reduce greenhouse gas emissions from coal-fired electricity to zero by 2030, from current emissions of 40 megatonnes annually.

McCuaig-Boyd says transitioning away from coal will create opportunities for new investment in Alberta.

“While this transition takes place, our government is committed to working with the companies operating in our competitive market, as well as those looking to invest to ensure that everyone is treated fairly,” she said.

"I believe as business leaders we have an opportunity to step up and lead the way to make this plan work," said Scott Thon, AltaLink President and CEO.

A number of Alberta energy and electricity companies were represented at the event, as well as companies looking to invest in building Alberta’s future electricity system.