Ontario considers coal-fired ban legislation

• 10 years ago (2013-11-25)
• Junior Isles

North America 1004 Renewables 757

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Ontario may become the first place in North America to ban coal-fired electricity generation outright, according to Premier Kathleen Wynne.

The minority Liberal party plans to table legislation which would prevent the return of coal-fired generation after the expected closure of the last plant in 2014.

Ontario's Nanticoke generating station, the largest coal-burning plant in North America, is set for imminent closure, and the Thunder Bay plant will transition to biomass burning over the next year.

"What's significant is that we're saying that we don't want to go back, we're not going to go back and that future government would have to change the legislation," Wynne said, accompanied by former US vice-president and activist Al Gore. "We believe that this puts a very clear line in the sand and is significant."

The legislation will need the support of at least one opposition party to pass, and faces uncertainty with none currently committed to supporting the proposal.

Progressive Conservative energy critic Lisa MacLeod has said her party must consider the legislation in detail before making any decisions.