Alberta to ban renewables on ‘prime’ land and preserve ‘pristine viewscapes’

Decision by premier Danielle Smith further pits Canadian province against environmental groups pushing green energy

Alberta will block renewable energy projects on prime" agricultural land and limit the placement of wind turbines to preserve pristine viewscapes", a decision that increasingly pits the western Canadian province against environmental groups pushing green energy - and the companies investing in it.

The decision, announced by the premier, Danielle Smith, and utilities minister, Nathan Neudorf, on Wednesday, follows a controversial six-month ban on new renewable energy projects that is due to expire on 29 February.