Planning for the Future: The Creation of New Corridors for Energy Infrastructure in Alberta, Canada

 Chilenye Nwapi

Abstract

This paper examines two strategic land-use planning statutes created by the Government of the province of Alberta, Canada to address energy infrastructure and environmental challenges: the Alberta Land Stewardship Act (ALSA) and the Land Assembly Project Area Act (LAPAA). ALSA incorporates an ecosystem management approach for land and resource management and mandates the creation of "integrated planning regions" and the development of plans that reflect regional differences in available renewable and non-renewable resources. LAPAA is intended to facilitate the creation of corridors for major energy infrastructure projects by empowering the Lieutenant Governor in Council to designate land in advance for future projects and to impose restrictions on the use of the designated land by the landowner. What are the short and long term implications of such restrictions for landowners? This article analyzes the two acts and considers laws from other jurisdictions to provide perspectives on how other jurisdictions are managing the challenges of building new energy infrastructure.

Keywords: Energy corridors, land use planning, property rights, public consultation, Alberta

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