Close X
Wednesday, February 26, 2025
ADVT 
National

Alberta Could Kick Coal Habit Under Incoming NDP Premier Rachel Notley

Darpan News Desk The Canadian Press, 13 May, 2015 10:30 AM
  • Alberta Could Kick Coal Habit Under Incoming NDP Premier Rachel Notley
CALGARY — Rachel Notley's sweeping election victory in Alberta has raised the possibility of big changes for the future of coal in the province.
 
The premier-designate has yet to comment on the issue since being elected, but she has long been a vocal critic of the province's reliance on coal-fired power plants.
 
Notley has called for the accelerated phase-out of coal power, both while she served as the NDP environment critic and more recently during the election campaign.
 
"The evidence is clear that it is time to phase out coal powered electricity in the province in Alberta," Notley said in March as she urged then-premier Jim Prentice to phase out coal-generated power in the province by 2030.
 
"Coal is one of the single largest pollutants in Alberta. It costs our health care millions of dollars every year and is a massive source of greenhouse gas emissions."
 
As of the end of last year, coal-fired power plants made up about 39 per cent of Alberta's installed power capacity. But because coal plants run more often than alternative power sources, coal actually supplied about 54 per cent of the province's energy demands last year.
 
Despite the province's heavy reliance on coal, Ed Whittingham, executive director of the Pembina Institute, says the province can eventually transition to cleaner fuels.
 
"There's nothing here to prevent Alberta from following in the steps of other provinces like Ontario in phasing out coal-fired electricity," says Whittingham.
 
Federal coal regulations that come into effect this summer require the eventual phase-out of coal across Canada, but the new rules allow existing plants to fulfil a 50-year lifespan. Whittingham says the new rules mean some plants will be able to operate until 2061.
 
"Under the federal regulations we are phasing out coal. The issue at hand is, 'Are we accelerating the phase-out of coal or not?'" says Whittingham.
 
Companies that could be affected by any policy changes include TransAlta Corp., Atco Power, Capital Power Corp., Epcor Utilities Inc. and Maxim Power Corp., which together make up the majority of the 6,258 megawatts of coal-fired capacity in the province.
 
Scotia Capital energy analyst Matthew Akman says policy changes might not actually hurt utility companies because they have diversified holdings in natural gas, hydro and wind generation, which could gain in value as coal is phased out.
 
To keep prices more stable though, the government would be better off keeping its coal capacity and slowly make changes to incentivize companies to wean off the fossil fuel, says Akman.
 
"For political and economic purposes they may decide they should just provide more incentives and penalties that gradually cause coal to run less and gas to run more," says Akman. "This way they could keep the low-cost coal around but still realize environmental goals and emissions targets."
 
After years of delays, last year Ontario successfully phased out its coal-fired power plants, which in 2003 made up 25 per cent of the province's power supply.
 
Since beginning to phase out coal over a decade ago, Ontario's electricity prices have roughly doubled, from below five cents a kilowatt hour to more than 10 cents per kWh.
 
"Certainly all across the country there's a move to phase out coal, which can and will and should happen over time, but it's a question of how and how fast," said Akman.
 
"It's always feasible, but it depends on what the consumer wants to pay for it."

MORE National ARTICLES

Inquest To Examine Death Of Woman Sent Home From Winnipeg Hospital In Taxi

Inquest To Examine Death Of Woman Sent Home From Winnipeg Hospital In Taxi
WINNIPEG — A woman whose mother died hours after being sent home in a cab from hospital is hoping an inquest that is to start Monday will provide some answers and help her heal.

Inquest To Examine Death Of Woman Sent Home From Winnipeg Hospital In Taxi

Rachel Notley Says It Hit Her A Week Before Election That She'd Be Premier

EDMONTON — Rachel Notley knew a week before voting day that she was going to shatter the Progressive Conservative dynasty and become Alberta's 17th premier — and it hit her like a punch in the stomach.

Rachel Notley Says It Hit Her A Week Before Election That She'd Be Premier

Parents Treating Epileptic Girl With Marijuana Oil Want The Treatment To Be Legal

Parents Treating Epileptic Girl With Marijuana Oil Want The Treatment To Be Legal
THORNHILL, Ont. — Gwenevere Repetski turns three next month and she is finally able to crawl, a milestone her parents thought they would never see.

Parents Treating Epileptic Girl With Marijuana Oil Want The Treatment To Be Legal

Study Undermines Narrative Of First Nations As Simple Hunter-Gatherers

Study Undermines Narrative Of First Nations As Simple Hunter-Gatherers
VANCOUVER — The discovery of an expansive system of historic clam gardens along the Pacific Northwest coast is contributing to a growing body of work that's busting long-held beliefs about First Nations as heedless hunter-gatherers.

Study Undermines Narrative Of First Nations As Simple Hunter-Gatherers

Changes To Gun Licensing System Set To Pass Before Commons Recess, Fall Election

Changes To Gun Licensing System Set To Pass Before Commons Recess, Fall Election
OTTAWA — New Conservative legislation that changes the gun licensing system cleared a House of Commons committee last week and is on track to become law before the summer recess — and a likely fall election.

Changes To Gun Licensing System Set To Pass Before Commons Recess, Fall Election

Chilliwack Triple Murder: Friend Tried Frantically To Reach Family After Facebook Murder Note

Chilliwack Triple Murder: Friend Tried Frantically To Reach Family After Facebook Murder Note
CHILLIWACK, B.C. — When Brian Jones saw the Facebook post, he didn't believe it was real — until he read the words "Love Daddio."

Chilliwack Triple Murder: Friend Tried Frantically To Reach Family After Facebook Murder Note