Clean Energy Canada | Quitting coal will drive clean growth and cut pollution
November 21, 2016

photograph of a wind turbine in sunlight against rural backdrop

OTTAWA — The Government of Canada announced today that it will accelerate investments in clean electricity by phasing out traditional coal-fired electricity by 2030, increasing the country’s supply of non-emitting electricity from 80 to 90 per cent over the same period.

Dan Woynillowicz, policy director at Clean Energy Canada, made the following statement in response to the announcement. 

QUOTES

“Phasing out traditional coal-fired power by 2030 is good news for all Canadians. This commitment will cut pollution, make for healthier communities, and help spur clean growth and innovation in Canada.

“Working together, provinces and the federal government can optimize our electricity system to deliver clean, reliable and affordable power. That means building transmission lines to carry more clean power to those jurisdictions still burning fossil fuels, investing in smarter grids in our towns and cities, and bringing more clean power online. It’s good to see these areas identified as priorities for infrastructure investment.

“There is a straightforward formula for cutting carbon pollution: clean up your electricity system, and shift from fossil fuels to clean power for heating buildings, fueling cars and powering industry. By committing to make 90 per cent of Canada’s electricity emissions-free by 2030, the federal government took a big step forward in Canada’s transition to clean energy.”

KEY FACTS

  • Between 2005 and 2015, wind power capacity grew 20-fold and solar capacity grew 125-fold. This new generation capacity is in addition to significant hydro capacity, which generated 58 per cent of Canada’s electricity in 2015. (Canada’s Renewable Power Landscape, National Energy Board)
  • All new generating capacity added to Canada’s grid last year was renewable, except for one natural gas plant. This means 88 per cent of new spending went to renewable power generation and 83 per cent of new capacity came from renewable sources. (Tracking the Energy Revolution – Canada 2016, Clean Energy Canada)
  • Spending on new renewable generation in Canada in 2015 is equivalent to all new capital investment in mining and quarrying ($9.6 billion) or half of new capital invested in manufacturing ($19.1 billion). (Tracking the Energy Revolution – Canada 2016, Clean Energy Canada)