By the Book: The critical role of the BC Energy Regulator

Before a wind or solar project can proceed, its proponent must show the BC Energy Regulator (BCER) that it will plan, build, operate, and eventually decommission the proposed facility in a way that minimizes impacts to the environment and nearby communities.

In March 2026, the BCER introduced the Renewable Energy Projects Regulation, which applies to large wind and solar projects with a nameplate capacity greater than five megawatts. The regulation requires project proponents to identify and address potential impacts to land, water, wildlife, First Nations rights and interests, public safety, and nearby communities, including cumulative impacts from other industrial activities in the region.

The regulation sets out requirements and expectations for:

• Protection of First Nations rights and interests
• Public consultation
• Permit applications
• Construction
• Operations and maintenance
• Environmental protection
• Public safety
• Emergency management and response
• Restoration and shutdown

Project proponents must consult with First Nations, local governments, residents, existing rights holders, and private landowners near the proposed project site. They must explain how they will minimize potential impacts to local housing, infrastructure, public services, landfills, and other community concerns. (For an explanation of what happens when, see our Project Timelines section.)

In 2025, the Province of British Columbia gave the BCER expanded authority to regulate renewable energy projects. Wind and solar projects now require an activity permit from the BCER, rather than moving through separate permitting processes managed by several provincial ministries and agencies.

This is why the BCER is now a “single-window” regulator for wind and solar: it is responsible for regulatory oversight across a project’s full lifecycle—from early planning through construction, operations, restoration, and shutdown.

In plain language, the new regulation creates one regulator, one coordinated process, and clear industry accountability. As wind and solar developers and their First Nations partners seek to advance 14 proposed projects, the BCER will ensure that promises made on paper translate into responsible practices on the ground—both today and decades into the future.