Why did Alberta pause new wind and solar projects? Premier says feds

globalnews.ca:

Alberta Premier Danielle Smith says Ottawa is one of the reasons why her government has placed a moratorium on approving new wind and solar power projects, arguing the feds are preventing development of backup generation for renewable energy like natural gas.Smith, whose government surprised the province’s renewable energy industry last week by announcing a six-month freeze on new projects greater than one megawatt, told her provincewide radio call-in program Saturday that backup plants powered by natural gas are needed for when wind isn’t blowing or the sun isn’t shining.But, she said, the federal government doesn’t want Alberta to add any new natural gas electricity plants to the grid.“So I’ve told them, how can I bring on additional wind and solar if I’m not able to secure the reliability of my power grid by being able to bring on natural gas peaker plants? That’s the heart of the problem,” Smith said.“No one is proposing any new natural gas plants because the federal government has created so much uncertainty in the market.”The rationale was confusing for an energy market economist, as well as a representative of a renewable energy industry group, who said there isn’t a requirement in Alberta’s market for generators to be able to supply power 24-7.“If somebody adds solar to the grid, you don’t need to add backup to compensate for it,” said Andrew Leach, a University of Alberta energy economist. “It just adds a source of cheap electricity for times when it is sunny outside.”“Essentially, you bring your power to the market every hour and see what it sells for.”Leach said it’s possible the addition of cheap wind and solar energy could discourage natural-gas powered projects by lowering the price of electricity.