About the Farmers’ Advocate Office (FAO)
The Farmers’ Advocate Office (FAO) was established in 1973 by the former Minister of Agriculture as a resource for Albertan farmers and ranchers. Today the FAO remains within the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, and works to ensure the rights and interests of rural Albertans are recognized, understood, and protected.
The mission of the FAO is to create value for rural Albertans and our stakeholders by:
- empowering rural Albertans through awareness on key issues;
- providing objective, unbiased ideas and advice for resolving disputes;
- representing the rural Alberta perspective on matters of concern;
- and facilitating interaction on strategic matters among key stakeholders.
RENEWABLE ENERGY GUIDE
Have you been approached about leasing your land to a wind or solar energy developer? Want to learn more about negotiating renewable energy leases? The Alberta Farmers’ Advocate Office (FAO) has a guide that can help.
The Renewable Energy in Alberta Guide is available online or by calling the Ag Info Centre at 310-FARM (3276). For questions or more information on renewable energy development, contact Alberta Ag Info Centre at 310-FARM (3276) or visit their Alberta Ag Info Centre website.
- Farmers’ Advocate Office: Energy, utilities and surface rights | Alberta.ca
- GUIDE: Renewable Energy in Alberta (gov.ab.ca)
Negotiating Renewable Energy Leases was first released in February 2017 in response to requests from Albertan landowners for additional resources to aid in the negotiation of wind and solar leases. This publication collects the relevant information from the different regulators, departments, and agencies within the province to help landowners ask informed questions and evaluate the opportunity of having a power plant on their land or within their community. As an advocate, the FAO does not create policy, but will provide comment on existing laws and policies and work as a liaison between landowners, industry, government, and regulators.