Should Wind and Solar Projects Pay Reclamation Security?
Official title: Renewable energy reclamation security engagement
Why This Matters
Own rural land in Alberta? This affects what happens when a wind or solar lease ends. Without proper security, you could be stuck with cleanup costs if a company goes bankrupt. These rules determine who pays to restore your land.
What Could Change
New regulations now require mandatory reclamation security for all wind and solar projects. Operators must either negotiate security with landowners or participate in the government-held program. The Code of Practice sets out specific requirements for how much security is needed.
Key Issues
- How much reclamation security should be required for wind and solar projects?
- When should security be collected during a project's lifecycle?
- How should the government-held security program work?
How to Participate
- This consultation has closed. Stakeholders from the renewable energy industry, municipalities, private landowners and Indigenous communities were invited to share feedback between September 20 to October 25, 2024.
What Happened
Stakeholders from the renewable energy industry, municipalities, private landowners and Indigenous communities provided feedback between September 20 to October 25, 2024. Their input helped inform the Code of Practice for Solar and Wind Renewable Energy Operations, the Conservation and Reclamation Amendment Regulation, and the Activities Designation Amendment Regulation.