The Canadian province with the largest proven oil reserves has now become home to the country’s cheapest wind energy. Alberta’s new green energy program has secured the lowest renewable electricity pricing in Canada, its provincial government declared Wednesday, in addition to bringing in roughly $1 billion of private-sector investment and adding around 600 megawatts (MW) of wind power to the grid. The results come as British Columbia says it can’t afford to cancel the controversial hydroelectric Site C mega-project, and as the federal government pushes expanded liquefied natural gas trade with China.

The room inside Calgary's McDougall Centre broke out in applause when Alberta Premier Rachel Notley unveiled the results of the first round of her government’s Renewable Electricity Program on Dec. 13. The province has now locked down a 20-year average price of 3.7 cents per kilowatt-hour — less than half of Ontario’s 2016 procurement that resulted in an average of 8.5 cents. “It’s a new record for renewable energy pricing in Canada — the lowest price Canadians have ever seen, right here in Alberta,” a triumphant Notley told the crowd. “Alberta isn’t only a leader in the [fossil fuel] energy that we are going to get to tidewater. We are also a leader in renewable energy, and we are going to show our fellow Canadians, and the world, that economic growth and environmental responsibility can, and must, and will go hand-in-hand.” Left to right: Megan Zimmerman from Calgary Economic Development, Ryan Brown from EDP Renewables, Alberta Energy Minister Marg McCuaig-Boyd, Mike Law from Alberta Electric System Operator, Alberta Premier Rachel Notley, Pascal Brun from Enel Green Power, Alberta Environment Minister Shannon Phillips, Robert Hornung from Canadian Wind Energy Association, and Brian Vaasjo from Capital Power on Dec. 13, 2017. Photo courtesy of the Government of Alberta

Notley announces Alberta's winners The Renewable Electricity Program holds competitions to bring in the best green energy generation bids. The first round whittled down the results from 29 different renewable projects that had advanced to the bidding stage, said Notley. The winners are: Edmonton-based Capital Power, for a 201-MW project southwest of Medicine Hat; EDP Renewables Canada, a subsidiary of a Madrid-based energy firm, for a 248-MW project northeast of Calgary; and Enel Green Power Canada, a division of a Rome-based utility firm, for 115-MW and 31-MW projects west of Lethbridge. The contribution of these projects, she added, will boost Alberta’s wind generation capacity by 40 per cent and boost its renewables by 20 per cent. Notley said the government had prepared for the costs to come in at around 8 cents per kilowatt-hour and had expected 400 MW of generation. “But because the auction was so competitive, and because interest in Alberta was so high, we were able to get 600 MW,” she said.