A new report shows that Ontario’s coal-free generation capacity now exceeds our peak day demands, making it possible to eliminate the province’s coal plants before the G20 Summit at the end of June.
The study, released Thursday by the Ontario Clean Air Alliance (OCAA), concludes that Ontario’s coal-free generation capacity was 23 per cent greater than our forecast peak day demand in the summer of 2010 and 27 per cent greater than our forecast peak day demand in 2014.
“This means we no longer need our dirty coal plants to keep the lights on in Ontario or to ensure a reliable electricity supply,” says Angela Bischoff, Outreach Director OCAA.
The OCAA report, Finishing the coal phase out: An historic opportunity for climate leadership, recommends that Ontario’s coal plants be placed on standby reserve and only operated in the event of a power emergency where there is no other option “to keep the lights on in Ontario.”
