Upcoming legislation aims to speed up renewable energy projects in BC.
On Thursday, the BC Government announced they will bring legislation later this year to get the regulation of renewable energy projects moved under the BC Energy Regulator’s authority. The organization is known for regulating energy activities in the province.
The province says the legislation will also have the organization oversee authorizations associated with high voltage electricity transmission projects.
The goal of this change is to not only speed up the expansion of BC’s electricity grid but to also meet demand in growth from mineral and metal mining, port electrification, hydrogen, fuel processing, and shipping projects.
The province says this comes as part of their intent to exempt all future wind projects from the environmental assessment process.
“This includes the nine wind projects that are now undersigned electricity purchase agreements with BC Hydro,” said the BC Government.
“It will create a single-window permitting process for renewable energy projects. The BC Energy Regulator will take a staged approach, focusing initially on the North Coast Transmission Line and other prescribed high-voltage transmission lines, and the wind and solar projects.”
The legislation is expected to be introduced this Spring.
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