Alberta government releases map showing what areas are off-limits for renewable power projects [Video]

The Alberta government has released some details of where and how it will permit wind and solar development, prohibiting it along a broad stretch of the province’s western edge, assessing its visual impact in five other large areas and restricting it on agricultural land.

“Wind projects are no longer permitted in the buffer zones due to the impact of their vertical footprint,” said Affordability and Utilities ministry spokeswoman Ashley Stevenson. “With agricultural lands, development is still permitted as long as the project can coexist with livestock or crops.”

The new restrictions will only apply to renewable energy development.

The no-go zone, according to a map released late Thursday, includes the entire length of the Rocky Mountains, stretching as far east as Calgary and Highway 2 in the south.

There are large zones around the Cypress Hills, Dinosaur Provincial Park, Writing-On-Stone Provincial Park, Head-Smashed-In Buffalo Jump and a stretch of foothills south of Rocky Mountain House where such projects will be subject to visual …