Environment Minister Peter Kent affirmed Canada's plan to gradually phase out traditional coal fired power plants, announced proposed regulations that would require any new units that begin producing power after July 1st 2015 to match the lower greenhouse gas emissions of natural gas generation.

Decisions will have to be made about existing coal-fired units as they reach the end of their economic lifespan at about 45-years-old, as they will have to be made to meet new performance standards if they are to continue operating.

Mr Kent said that "We want to encourage the shift to cleaner alternatives and to ensure money is spent on clean technology and innovation like carbon capture and storage.”

Mr Kent added that "We have recognized the very different situations even in some provinces plant to plant, but certainly region by region in the principal coal-fired provinces of Alberta, Saskatchewan and Nova Scotia and we have recognized transition phases that will allow those who invest sooner rather than later, how they can get through without stranding capital, without risking new investment to meet these (regulations) in 2020 and through that decade. Some will only fully meet their requirements by 2030.”

If a new coal burning plant were to be constructed and begin operating before the 2015 date such as a proposed new coal-fired Maxim Power Corp. plant in Alberta the new, more stringent regulations would not apply until the end of the life of that plant.

Mr Kent said about two thirds of the country's coal-fired generating stations are approaching the end of their natural operating lives. Nineteen of them will be there by 2015. He said the new regulations will not mean huge hikes to consumer power bills, contending that by 2020 the average Canadian residential electricity bill will increase by only an estimated USD 5 a year.

(Sourced from www.vancouversun.com)