Canada to nearly eliminate coal-fired power by 2030

Canada’s federal government is implementing a plan to phase down the use of coal for power plants and nearly eliminate it by 2030.

Environment Minister Catherine McKenna announced the plan Monday at a news conference, saying the federal government will give provinces some authority over how to implement the mandates.

{mosads}“Taking traditional coal power out of our energy mix and replacing it with cleaner technologies will significantly reduce our greenhouse gas emissions, improve the health of Canadians, and benefit generations for years to come,” McKenna said.

It is the most ambitious climate change program implemented by the Liberal government that took power in 2015 under Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.

Climate has been a top priority of Trudeau, after the Conservative government of Stephen Harper was criticized frequently both in Canada and around the world for not being ambitious enough.

Only four provinces currently have coal-fired power plants, according to the Globe and Mail.

Alberta is already planning to phase out coal by 2030. Nova Scotia is negotiating a deal with the federal government to burn some coal in peak periods after 2030.

Saskatchewan and New Brunswick, meanwhile, have power plants that can run until 2040, and expressed some opposition to the national coal phaseout.

Federal officials have not estimated the costs to consumers or the economy that could result from the plan, the Globe and Mail said.