- Intervener Costs Dispute: As of late May 2025, the Alberta Utilities Commission (AUC) is actively taking enforcement steps against PACE Bang Energy LP regarding unpaid intervener costs. The company was ordered on March 14 to pay $238,950 to the Caroline Concerned Citizens Group (CCCG) for their participation in regulatory hearings, but failed to do so by the April 14 deadline. PACE instead filed for a review and appeal but the motion to stay payment was denied by the AUC on May 8. The CCCG reported that payment still was not made and accused PACE of willful non-compliance.[1][2]
- Potential Project Suspension: In light of ongoing non-compliance, the AUC is considering several sanctions:
- Suspending all processing and approvals for the Caroline Solar Farm project.
- Suspending current and new applications from PACE and its affiliated companies across Alberta.
- Requiring up-front security for any new intervener costs.
- Considering an application for contempt under the Alberta Utilities Commission Act.[2]
- Awarding interest on the unpaid costs at prime plus 1.75% until payment.
- Operational Impact: The project, which received conditional approval on February 28, 2025, is now effectively on hold until these compliance issues and regulatory reviews are resolved. The approval itself is under review and the project's future is uncertain pending the outcome of additional regulatory proceedings and, potentially, broader sanctions against PACE and its affiliates.[2]
Community Developments
- Opposition Remains Strong: Local resistance, led by CCCG, continues with organized efforts to push for reconsideration or cancellation of the project. More than 100 Caroline residents have sought further engagement with the AUC.[3][4]
- Local Governance Changes: Caroline's amalgamation into Clearwater County as a hamlet became effective January 1, 2025, with land use bylaws and service agreements carrying over through the transition period. New municipal and council structures are still evolving as of August 2025, possibly complicating land use and project oversight.[5]
Project Timeline
- Schedule Update: While initial plans suggested completion of construction by 2026, as of August 2025, the project is still listed as "proposed" with regulatory review ongoing and construction not started.[6]
Key Takeaways
- As of August 2025, the Caroline Solar Farm is not progressing due to unresolved intervener cost disputes, active regulatory enforcement, and pending reviews.
- Community opposition and local governance shifts remain central to the project’s uncertainty.
- Construction is on hold; future status depends on PACE’s compliance with regulatory orders and ongoing negotiations with stakeholders.
If you need granular details on the latest AUC filings, community actions, or evolving land use bylaws as they may affect this or other renewable projects in west-central Alberta, I can dig deeper!
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- https://www.ctvnews.ca/calgary/article/company-planning-alberta-solar-plant-project-owes-citizens-group-238k-auc/
- https://prd-api-efiling20.auc.ab.ca/Anonymous/DownloadPublicDocumentAsync/836072
- https://www.ctvnews.ca/calgary/article/we-arent-anti-solar-some-citizens-in-alberta-hamlet-of-caroline-concerned-about-approval-of-solar-farm/
- https://www.ctvnews.ca/calgary/video/2025/03/21/residents-raising-concerns-about-caroline-area-solar-farm/
- https://villageofcaroline.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/2025A-Interim-Budget-2.pdf
- https://majorprojects.alberta.ca/details/Caroline-Solar-Project/4361
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