Edmonton’s mayor calling out the NDP for calling on him to comment on the governing UCP’s energy policy

Edmonton Mayor Amarjeet Sohi is wondering why the provincial opposition is calling on him and Calgary Mayor Jyoti Gondek, to comment on the United Conservative Party’s ban on renewable energy development.

Wednesday the Alberta NDP released a statement calling on “Alberta’s two largest cities to join the fight against the UCP’s ban.”

The NDP says, “Danielle Smith sabotaged more than a dozen low-cost, low-emission power stations, just as Albertans are facing unprecedented energy prices and an unprecedented wildfire season.”

Before noting, Calgary and Edmonton each have over a million Albertans, who will “be hurt by rising electricity prices.” Adding both cities have “utility companies that will be directly affected.”

The NDP claim letters were sent to both mayors, which indicates “leadership shown by both cities in their aggressive moves into renewable energy.”

However, Edmonton’s mayor said he’s confused by the NDP statement, saying the provincial opposition has not talked to him.

“I am at a loss to understand why Deputy Leader Sarah Hoffman would send out this media advisory without once talking to me, my office, or our administration. The City of Edmonton takes our climate responsibility very seriously,” explained Mayor Sohi.

“In our most recent budget, City Council made historic investments into our climate priorities such as $16 million for our Energy Transition Strategy, $53 million to energy retrofit City facilities, and $34.5 million supporting a District Energy Network Strategy and Nodes.”

Sohi added that Edmonton has made two power purchase agreements for renewable electricity. Those purchases were made to reduce the city’s corporation’s carbon footprint.

“Last week, I asked our administration to conduct an analysis to understand if the provincial moratorium impacts our purchase agreements. Once that analysis is completed, we will directly communicate with the province and the Alberta Utilities Commission,” said Sohi.

“A robust and enabling regulatory framework is critical to continue to attract investments into renewable energy and hydrogen projects, so we can reach our goal of community carbon neutrality by 2050.”

The NDP state Premier Smith stopped the approval of at least 12 renewable energy projects within the province.

“The premier’s justifications for the move have been both nonsensical and dishonest,” Hoffman wrote. “She has attempted to blame the federal government, the Alberta Utility Regulator, the Alberta Electricity Systems Operator, and the Rural Municipalities of Alberta.”

The NDP has also asked for public hearings as to why “the UCP crushed a booming industrial sector.”