The Government of Alberta has asked the province's Utilities Commission (AUC) to suspend approval of new renewable electricity projects, such as wind and solar farms.

The approval for such projects will be suspended for six months to allow the United Conservative Party (UCP) government in Edmonton to study the gaps in current development regulations.

For his part, the Minister of Affordability and Utilities, Nathan Neudorf, stated that this temporary halt is necessary to clarify how agricultural lands can be used to build power generation stations and also to clarify expectations regarding long-term land rehabilitation.

The Utilities Commission will conduct an investigation into these issues and provide a report to the provincial government early next year.

According to Minister Neudorf, this suspension affects 15 projects currently under review by the body responsible for decisions related to power generation projects.

Moreover, the Government of Alberta stated that it wants to address issues raised by municipalities and landowners, while also helping companies understand the extent of their responsibilities in light of the wave of new renewable energy projects.

For her part, the chair of the Utilities Commission, Caroline Dal Reis, wrote in a letter dated July 21, 2023, that the commission is handling a "historically unprecedented volume" of licensing requests for wind, solar, and thermal power stations.

The electricity projects that will have their approvals temporarily suspended are only those that produce more than one megawatt.

The Edmonton government stated that the decision will therefore not affect plans to install renewable energy generation systems in private homes and municipal communities.