The Miistakis Institute, with support from the RMA and other key stakeholders, has developed the Least Conflict Lands: Municipal Decision Support Tool for Siting Renewable Energy
Alberta is investing in renewables as a key strategy to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Alberta’s Climate Leadership Plan aims to generate 30% of electricity from renewable sources by 2030. A key challenge is to manage land use issues associated with the rapid growth in energy projects in the province. Many land use impacts can be addressed through proper siting and avoidance of areas important to ecology, agriculture, or culture and scenic resources. A key lesson from other jurisdictions supporting renewable energy development is the importance of siting renewable energy development to reduce impacts to other land uses.
To support this work, the Miistakis Institute has developed the Least Conflict Lands: Municipal Decision Support Tool for Siting Renewable Energy. This tool uses Wheatland County and the County of Newell as pilots to map the different land use values of land within their municipal boundaries. Doing this displays the areas that are more optimal for wind energy development, or conversely, where wind energy development should be avoided.
To access the Least Conflict Lands: Municipal Decision Support Tool for Siting Renewable Energy, click here.
For enquiries, please contact:
Matt Dow
Policy Analyst
matt@RMAlberta.com
Tasha Blumenthal
Director of External Relations & Advocacy
tasha@RMAlberta.com