Fury as Alberta cuts renewables during Canada’s worst fire season ever

illuminem summarizes for you the essential news of the day. Read the full piece on The Guardian or enjoy below

🗞️ Driving the news: Alberta, Canada's largest oil and gas-producing province, announced a six-month moratorium on large solar and wind projects
• This decision is to review policies regarding their construction, impact on the power grid, and decommissioning rules
• The move has led to disbelief and tension between Alberta, favoring natural gas, and the federal Liberals aiming to decarbonize the country's electrical grids by 2035

🔭 The context: The decision came amid Canada's worst wildfire season, worsened by the climate crisis and reliance on fossil fuels
• The federal government's clean energy plan was unveiled on Tuesday, emphasizing federal authority over environmental regulations
• Nearly C$2bn worth of projects have been proposed in Alberta recently, and this decision could divert them to other jurisdictions

🌎 Why does it matter for the planet: The halt on renewable projects contrasts with global efforts to reduce dependence on fossil fuels and transition to cleaner energy sources

⏭️ What's next: The scope of the moratorium is unclear, but it could potentially strand around 100 projects capable of powering 3 million homes, worth at least C$25bn in investments
• The decision has baffled various groups and could weaken investor confidence in Alberta's renewable sector

💬 One quote: “It’s clearly an ideological decision, taken at a time when climate impacts have hit Canada so devastatingly. It is completely irresponsible to halt the deployment of cost-effective and proven climate solutions.” (Caroline Brouillette, executive director of the Climate Action Network)

📈 One stat: Nearly one-third of Alberta’s grid is powered by renewables, and the province is expected to attain the goal of phasing out coal power this year, seven years earlier than the previous 2030 target

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