Newmarket: The provincial government announced on January 10 that its phase-out of coal-fired power generation in Southern Ontario would be completed ahead of schedule. Then-Premier Dalton McGuinty said that the Lambton and Nanticoke coal plants, the only coal-fired stations still operating in southern Ontario, will stop burning coal by the end of 2013. Closing the Lambton and Nanticoke plants early is expected to save ratepayers approximately $95 million through reduced maintenance and project costs. Relatively small amounts of coal will continue to be used at one northern Ontario power plant for another year, and complete phase-out is expected by the end of 2014.
"When we came to government in 2003 we decided to stop burning coal and to protect more green space to help clean our air. Thanks to the conservation efforts of Ontarians, we were able to do just that, and today, all Ontarians can breathe a little easier," McGuinty said. Describing the initiative as “the No. 1 greenhouse gas reduction action in North America,” the Ontario Clean Air Alliance said, “this represents a huge environmental and health victory for all Ontarians and we congratulate the Liberal Government for this major accomplishment.”
The government said that the early closure is a result of Ontario's strong conservation efforts, a smarter electricity grid and a diverse supply of cleaner energy. Eliminating coal-fired power generation has been one of the long term objectives of the McGuinty government. Since 2003, Ontario has cut its use of coal by nearly 90 per cent. The province will have shut down 17 of 19 coal units by the end of 2013. By the end of 2014, Ontario will be one of the first places in the world to eliminate coal as a source of electricity production.
"We’re leading the way by providing our families with cleaner air to breathe so they can lead healthier lives, now and for generations to come," said Chris Bentley, Ontario’s Minister of Energy.
According to a 2008 study from the Canadian Medical Association, Ontario's economic cost related to air pollution, including lost productivity, health care costs, quality of life and loss of life, is almost $4 billion.