Canada Plans to Phase Out Coal Power by 2030
Canada aims to eliminate traditional coal-fired power by 2030, the government announced Monday. The plan, which speeds up Canada's existing timetable, is a complete reversal of U.S. President-elect Donald Trump's pledge to revive the coal industry. Trump aims to ease the regulatory burden on fossil fuel producers in the U.S. Canada Environment Minister Catherine McKenna said the regulation will consider the positions of the country's provinces, giving them the option of phasing out coal use entirely and using lower-emitting resources, or using carbon capture and storage technology, the Wall Street Journal reported. Alberta, Saskatchewan, Nova Scotia and New Brunswick still burn coal for power. According to McKenna, 80 of Canada's electricity comes from non-carbon emitting sources. By amending existing regulations to eliminate coal, she aims to increase the percentage to 90 by 2030, the Journal reported. The Canadian government plans to support the transition out of coal-powered electricity through the use of the Canada Infrastructure Bank's public-private funding mechanism, Reuters reported.