National Renewable Energy Stategy Act

Summary#

• This bill tells the federal natural resources minister to create and carry out a national plan so that, by December 31, 2030, all electricity generated in Canada comes from renewable sources.

• The minister must work with provinces and Indigenous governing bodies when making the plan, publish it, and report on progress every three years.

• Key points:

  • Sets a target of 100% renewable electricity by the end of 2030.
  • Calls for more renewable projects to start each year than non-renewable ones (at least two to one).
  • Boosts research and development in renewable technologies.
  • Encourages the federal and provincial governments to set up new large public electric utilities.
  • Requires incentives within one year to kick-start solar, wind, tidal, and biomass projects, and to help homes and businesses retrofit to use more renewable power.
  • Incentives cover start-up costs only, not ongoing costs.
  • The strategy must be tabled in Parliament within two years and updated reports must follow every three years.

What it means for you#

• Homeowners and renters

  • You could see new grants, rebates, or tax credits to install rooftop solar or other small renewable systems.
  • More options to buy or use renewable electricity at home.
  • Construction and upgrades in your area as grids add wind, solar, and other renewables.

• Businesses and farms

  • Start-up incentives could lower upfront costs for on-site solar, wind, or biomass power.
  • New opportunities to sell excess renewable power back to the grid where rules allow.
  • Possible changes to electricity rates as utilities shift their power mix and build new lines.

• Energy workers

  • Growth in jobs building and maintaining renewable projects and transmission lines.
  • Workers in coal, gas, and nuclear generation may face changes as provinces shift to renewables.

• Provinces, territories, and utilities

  • Pressure to replace fossil and nuclear generation with renewable sources to meet the 2030 target.
  • Potential creation or expansion of public electric utilities.
  • Need for faster permitting, new transmission, and grid upgrades to connect projects.
  • Regular federal reports and coordination with provincial energy ministries.

• Indigenous communities

  • A formal role in shaping the national strategy.
  • Potential access to start-up incentives for Indigenous-led renewable projects.

• Remote and northern communities

  • Push to replace diesel generation with local renewable options where feasible.
  • Possible pilot projects for wind, solar with storage, or biomass.

Expenses#

Estimated fiscal impact: No publicly available information.

• The bill requires federal incentives for new renewable projects and property retrofits, which would involve new spending, but it sets no dollar amounts.
• Federal departments would face costs to develop, implement, publish, and update the strategy.
• Provinces and utilities would likely face major capital costs to add renewables, retire non-renewables, and expand transmission. These costs could affect electricity rates, but the bill does not set rate rules.

Proponents' View#

• Helps meet climate targets on time by cleaning up the power grid quickly.
• Sparks job growth and private investment in renewables, manufacturing, and construction.
• Gives clear direction to markets and utilities, which can lower financing costs and speed builds.
• Start-up incentives can unlock community and Indigenous projects that struggle to get off the ground.
• Public utilities can take on large projects and keep prices more stable for customers.
• Cleaner air from less fossil fuel burning improves public health.

Opponents' View#

• The 2030 deadline is very tight and may risk reliability if renewables and transmission are not ready.
• Excluding nuclear (not a renewable source) could force provinces to replace low‑carbon baseload power, raising costs and making the transition harder.
• Upfront costs for new generation and transmission could increase power bills for households and businesses.
• Electricity is mainly a provincial area; some see this as federal overreach into provincial decision‑making.
• Limiting incentives to start-up costs may not be enough to make projects viable without ongoing support.
• Supply chain, permitting delays, and local opposition could slow projects and make the target unrealistic.