Coal phase-out ahead of schedule

Toronto Star
September 10, 2009
Jack Gibbons

Coal phase-out ahead of schedule
Re:Closing Nanticoke not good news, Letter Sept. 7

According to Robert Fuller, Premier Dalton McGuinty's decision to close two of the eight units at the Nanticoke coal-fired power plant will require Ontario to import electricity from the U.S. since we don't have sufficient generating capacity to meet our needs. This is false.

Today, Ontario's coal-free electricity generating capacity exceeds our forecast peak day demand in 2010 by 20 per cent.

Thanks to the leadership of the premier and George Smitherman, Ontario will be able to achieve a complete coal phase-out before the October 2011 provincial election.

Jack Gibbons, Chair, Ontario Clean Air Alliance, Toronto