Canada’s Environment Minister Announces Important Step Towards Reducing Electricity Sector Emissions

Canada’s Environment Minister Peter Kent announced that the Government of Canada is moving forward with Regulations for the coal-fired electricity sector.

“Our strategy to lower our emissions is based on making improvements sector by sector to sustain our economy and protect our environment,” said Minister Kent.  “We are taking action in the electricity sector because we recognize the potential for significant emissions reductions. We are committed to build on our strength in the electricity sector and to lead the world in clean electricity generation.”

These proposed Regulations will apply a stringent performance standard to new coal-fired electricity generation units and those coal-fired units that have reached the end of their economic life. This will help reduce greenhouse gas emissions and improve air quality for all Canadians for generations to come.

The gradual phase-out of traditional coal-fired electricity generation is expected to have a significant impact on reducing emissions. The proposed regulations, in addition to other measures taken by federal and provincial governments and utilities to reduce electricity emissions from coal and other sources, are projected to result in a decline in the absolute level of GHG emissions from electricity generation.

The Government first announced its intention to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in the electricity sector on June 23, 2010. Since then, consultations have been ongoing with key stakeholders to inform the development of the proposed Regulations. These regulations will be published in the Canada Gazette Part I on August 27 for a 60-day public consultation period.

Final Regulations are expected to be published in 2012, and regulations are scheduled to come into effect on July 1, 2015.

The Government of Canada is making progress towards our ambitious target of reducing our greenhouse gas emissions 17 per cent from 2005 levels by 2020 through a sector-by-sector approach aligned with the U.S.

Note: This document is not the official version of the proposed Regulations. The official version of the proposed Regulations will be   published in the August 27 edition of the Canada Gazette Part I, which will initiate the formal 60-day comment period. Once available, interested parties will be able to access the official version of the proposed Regulations at: http://www.ec.gc.ca/default.asp?lang=En&n=7852D1D2-1