OCAA calls on Parkdale-High Park by-election candidates to endorse 2009 Nanticoke coal phase-out

August 17, 2006

Nanticoke is Canada's No. 1 air polluter

OCAA calls on Parkdale-High Park by-election candidates to endorse 2009 Nanticoke coal phase-out

The Ontario Clean Air Alliance is asking all candidates in the Parkdale-High Park by-election to endorse the phase-out of coal burning at the Nanticoke Generating Station by 2009.  Nanticoke is the smog giant on Toronto’s doorstep -- Canada's No. 1 source of both smog and greenhouse gas emissions and a major contributor to poor air quality in the GTA.

"Having a plan to stop burning dirty coal at Nanticoke by 2009 will demonstrate real leadership on the crucial issues of air quality and climate change to the voters of Parkdale – High Park," says Jack Gibbons, chair of the OCAA.  The OCAA, he adds, is already offering an effective answer to how we can stop coal burning at Nanticoke while meeting the province's electricity needs.

The Government of Ontario can phase-out coal burning at Nanticoke without reducing the province's electricity supply by directing OPG to convert Nanticoke’s boilers from dirty coal to cleaner-burning natural gas.

The total capital cost of the Nanticoke conversion, including a new gas pipeline to Nanticoke, would be between $280 and $540 million.  To put this cost in context, OPG spent $1.25 billion to return the Pickering A Unit 4 nuclear reactor to service despite the fact that the Unit 4 reactor is capable of producing the equivalent of just 13% of Nanticoke's power.

Phasing-out coal burning at Nanticoke would provide Ontario with approximately one-third of the total greenhouse gas emission reductions the entire province needs to achieve compliance with its Kyoto Protocol target for 2010.  It would also help the province meet mercury emission reduction targets under the Canada Wide Standard for Mercury.  Mercury is a powerful neurotoxin that is particularly harmful to children and pregnant women.

On June 13, 2006, in response to pressure from the Association of Major Power Consumers in Ontario (e.g., Imperial Oil, St Marys Cement, PetroCanada),  Premier McGuinty broke his promise to phase-out coal burning at Nanticoke by 2009.  According to Premier McGuinty, he is still committed to the eventual phase-out of coal-burning at Nanticoke, but he is no longer committed to achieving the phase-out by a specific date.

"The electors of Parkdale-High Park have the right to know where the individuals who wish to represent them at Queen's Park stand on this key public health and climate change issue," said Jack Gibbons, Chair of the OCAA.

The OCAA has asked the candidates to state their positions on the Nanticoke coal phase-out by Aug. 25th

For more information please see our fact sheet: Nanticoke: The smog giant on Toronto’s doorstep.

 For more information:

 Jack Gibbons, Chair, Ontario Clean Air Alliance  416-926-1907 ext. 240