Coal phase-out will raise electricity bills by 34 to 53 cents per month

November 27, 2006

Scrubbers more expensive than gas conversion

 Coal phase-out will raise electricity bills by 34 to 53 cents per month

Phasing-out coal burning will raise residential electricity bills by 34 to 53 cents per month according to a report released by the Ontario Clean Air Alliance (OCAA) today.  The report also reveals that converting the Nanticoke and Thunder Bay Generating Stations’ boilers to natural gas is a lower cost pollution reduction option than installing end-of-pipe pollution controls on Nanticoke, as proposed by the Ontario Power Authority (OPA).  “Converting the Nanticoke and Thunder Bay Generating Stations to natural gas is $1.2 billion cheaper than installing the best end-of-pipe pollution controls on Nanticoke”, said Jack Gibbons, Chair of the OCAA.

“Premier McGuinty can keep his promise to phase-out coal by 2009 by directing Ontario Power Generation to convert the Nanticoke and Thunder Bay Generating Stations to natural gas and the Atikokan coal plant to biomass”, Mr. Gibbons added.

The OPA, on the other hand, is proposing that the coal plants should continue to operate until at least December 31, 2014.  In addition, the OPA is recommending that, in 2010, Ontario Power Generation (OPG) should export over 90% of its dirty coal-fired electricity generation to the United States* despite the fact that, according to a report prepared for the Ontario Ministry of Energy, air pollution from OPG’s Nanticoke and Lambton coal plants kill 668 Ontarians per year. 

“Premier McGuinty needs to take action now to meet his promise to phase out coal by 2009.  He should stop listening to bad advice from the Ontario Power Authority that will lead to many more years of dirty air and inaction on climate change.  It is time for Premier McGuinty to aggressively cut through the red tape and bureaucratic stalling on this issue.  The people of Ontario have been waiting far too long for real action on the coal phase-out”, said Mr. Gibbons.

An End to Dirty Power: A real plan to achieve a true coal phase out can be downloaded from the OCAA website at www.cleanairalliance.org.  The companion report, Phasing Out Coal: 2006 Progress Report contains additional details on the status and availability of replacement power sources.

  According to the OPA, Ontario should produce 15 billion kWh of coal-fired electricity in 2010 and export 14 billion kWh to the United States.  14 billion kWh is equal to approximately 50% of the total electricity consumption of all of Toronto Hydro’s customers.

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For more information:
Jack Gibbons, OCAA Chair   416-926-1907 ext. 240