City of Edmonton Mayor Amarjeet Sohi is blasting the Alberta NDP after it urged him to speak out publicly against the provincial moratorium on renewable energy.."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," Sohi said on Wednesday..On Wednesday, the Alberta NDP called on Sohi and Calgary Mayor Jyoti Gondek, to comment on the UCP government's policy on renewable energy development..In two letters released Wednesday, NDP deputy leader Sarah Hoffman said Sohi and Gondek and their cities need to join the Alberta NDP demands the UCP government’s temporary pause on new wind and solar projects be lifted..“Both cities own utility companies that are directly impacted by this ban. Both cities are home to more than a million Albertans who will have to pay more on their power bills,” Hoffman said in a press conference..The Alberta NDP also released a statement calling on “Alberta’s two largest cities to join the fight against the UCP’s ban.”.“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," the Alberta NDP said..In a statement to Postmedia, Sohi said he asked city administration last week to do an analysis of how the provincial ban might impact the city’s two power purchase agreements for renewable electricity..“Once that analysis is completed, we will directly communicate with the province and the Alberta Utilities Commission,” Sohi told Postmedia in a statement..Sohi claimed the City of Edmonton takes its climate responsibility "very seriously.".“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 said..Mayor Jyoti Gondek said told the Alberta NDP "Respectfully, MLA Ceci - we have stepped up."."We are in talks with industry experts & regional partners to establish a path forward," Gondek said.."We want to propose regulations that would accommodate a sustainable & affordable energy future. Feel free to speak directly with us in future.".The NDP said Alberta Premier Smith stopped the approval of at least 12 renewable energy projects within the province..The UCP government announced the moratorium on renewable projects on Aug. 3..“The premier’s justifications for the move have been both nonsensical and dishonest,” Hoffman said..“She has attempted to blame the federal government, the Alberta Utility Regulator, the Alberta Electricity Systems Operator and the Rural Municipalities of Alberta.”
