In name of clean energy, Liberals seek to snuff out, clean up coal-fired power
OTTAWA — The federal Liberal government once again earned the scorn of Saskatchewan’s premier Monday with the next phase of its clean-energy strategy: pushing provinces to either phase out or clean up their coal-fired power plants.
The goal of the Trudeau government is to ensure 90 per cent of Canada’s electricity comes from sustainable sources by 2030, up from 80 per cent now, Environment Minister Catherine McKenna said Monday.
Coal-fired units are among the largest sources of air pollution in the country, including sulphur dioxides, nitrogen oxides and mercury pollutants.
In addition, coal power in Alberta, Saskatchewan, New Brunswick and Nova Scotia accounts for more than eight per cent of Canada’s total greenhouse gas emissions.