Rushing to close coal plants is not the answer

We are all well aware that there are smog problems in Ontario; however, the issue of air pollution requires more thought than simply rushing to pull the plug on coal-fired power plants like Nanticoke.

Here are a few issues to consider:

The United States has about 200 coal-fired plants emitting pollution in our common air shed.  These U.S. plants account for over 50 per cent of the smog in Ontario; while Ontario’s electricity industry accounts for seven per cent.

Ontario’s coal-fuelled plants supply a quarter of our electricity. In contrast, upwind neighbouring states like Illinois, Indiana and Ohio depend on coal for more than 80 per cent of their power.

Rushing to close our coal-fired stations is not the answer to our energy needs. Coupled with the on-going technological advances with regard to reducing emissions, coal is affordable and abundant – these are significant benefits we simply can’t ignore.

Despite these facts, the OPG Nanticoke station continues to be a favorite scapegoat for those pointing fingers over emission concerns – unfortunately, many of those doing the pointing are only seeing part of the picture.

Time and time again, our ministers and premier are called upon for reasons as to why Nanticoke should continue to power our province.

Recently, Energy Minister John Baird was clear in pointing out that our government has made a number of significant advances toward cleaner energy at Nanticoke and across Ontario.

In response to questioning from the opposition, Baird pointed out that, “We generate 24% of our electricity in Ontario using coal, and that's demonstrably less than when [the opposition] were in government.”

Baird went on to say that, “We're also spending more than a quarter of a billion dollars on pollution abatement at both Nanticoke and Lambton, investments that [the opposition] failed to make.”

Similar statements were made in the legislature by Premier Ernie Eves. “First of all, you’ll know that 68 per cent of the power generated in the province of Ontario comes from generation sources that do not produce greenhouse gases,” said Eves. “And we have in place procedures that will result in 80 per cent reduction of nitrous oxide pollution by the year 2003 at Lambton and Nanticoke.”

Our government is spending $250 million to construct Selective Catalytic Reduction (SCR) units that will drop nitrous oxide emissions from Nanticoke and Lambton to their lowest levels ever – emissions between the two plants will drop by 12,000 tonnes, which is equivalent to taking 60,000 cars off the road.

We all agree that diversity in supply is essential for the stability of our future power needs in Ontario.  Coal, when compared to North American reserves of other energy sources is by far North America’s most abundant and cheapest fossil fuel.  This is overwhelming and should not be ignored. 

Dalton McGuinty’s “plan”, that would rush the shut-down of coal-fired plants by 2007, is not only unrealistic, but costly – an OPG report shows the Liberal proposal will cause prices to soar by 20 per cent or $9.5 billion across the province.