Alberta ahead of game in coal-fired power plant shutdowns, environment minister says
Close plants or capture carbon emissions by 2030, Ottawa says
Alberta Environment Minister Shannon Phillips is unfazed by the new federal plan to accelerate the phase-out of coal-fired electricity plants because the province already has a strategy of its own.
Phillips's federal counterpart, Catherine McKenna, announced Ottawa will speed up the phase-out so the use of coal-fired plants is mostly ended by 2030.
The four provinces that still burn coal for electricity will either have to close the plants or capture the carbon emissions.
Alberta's NDP government announced last year it would decommission the last six coal-fired plants not affected by previous federal regulations by 2030.
"We don't expect this will change much for us because we've already set the parameters of our policy. We won't unnecessarily strand capital and so on," Phillips said.
Phillips said Alberta's electricity market is unique because it is deregulated, so it made sense to have a made-in-Alberta plan.
The Alberta government is working with the companies that own the six plants and affected communities to ensure a good transition, Phillips added.
Phillips said Alberta is ahead in planning compared to other jurisdictions that still burn coal for electricity, and details are expected to be released soon.