Increasing renewable energy development to create more conflicts between environmental values [Video]

An Alberta environmental group opposes a solar power project over concerns it would damage antelope habitat and block their migration.

Homeowners in the province are fighting a renewable natural gas proposal over fears it would hurt air quality and strengthen already powerful odours.

As Alberta slowly builds a climate change-friendly energy grid, conflicts between different environmental values are going to become more frequent, experts say.

“All energy development has impacts,” said Sara Hastings-Simon, a professor in the School of Public Policy at the University of Calgary.

One example is the Aira solar project near the town of Bow Island in southern Alberta.

The project would provide 450 megawatts of carbon-free electricity to the provincial grid, but opponents fear its location would damage native grasslands and block herds of antelope as they migrate north from the U.S.

“Antelope can’t migrate through chain-link fences,” said Cliff Wallis of the Alberta Wilderness Association.

The company has promised to build lanes for the animals to …