There’s a certain segment of the population that would have you believe that coal is finished, and we should abandon any form of power generation that employs coal, including carbon sequestration and storage (CCS), in favour of cleaner technologies.
We had a task force roll through the Estevan area earlier this year, seeking input from those affected by the phase out of coal that is expected to happen in 2030. But a funny thing has happened on the march towards a coal power-free Canada.
Nova Scotia Power has announced it will start burning Cape Breton coal once again, 20 years after it was last used as a power source. It flies in the face of what many want to see in this country.
Provinces and power companies have been getting out of the coal game for a while. They have favoured cleaner-burning power sources, even though those options are traditionally more expensive than coal, and they don’t provide the same electrical output as coal.
It’s why the Cape Breton coal announcement caught some people off-guard.
According to Nova Scotia Power, the Cape Breton coal, when washed, will burn properly and meet the existing emission regulations for mercury, carbon dioxide and sulphur dioxide. And, not surprisingly, it will save money for ratepayers.
This isn’t a permanent move. Like other compliant coal power sources, it will have to be phased out by 2030, unless the federal government decides to push the coal phase-out date back by a few years.
But it is encouraging to see that Nova Scotia Power is opting to reopen a coal plant, which will create jobs and reduce the cost of living for residents in the medium-term.
The ironic part about Canada’s accelerated phase-out of compliant and conventional coal is that it now contradicts what is happening around the world. At the start of the 21st century, it seemed like nobody was building coal-fired generating stations.
The U.S. has announced its desire to keep coal-fired generation in the mix. And many nations around the world have been investing in coal, because they recognize its ability to provide cheap, reliable and plentiful power.
So it’s clear there is a global demand for coal power, and it’s going to be around internationally well beyond 2030.
Why are we so eager to get out of coal when so many are eager to keep it going?
And, as we’ve stated countless times before, those countries will be eager to embrace technologies that will make their coal power a little cleaner.
Countries have the challenge of trying to maintain their economies while being effective stewards of the environment. We can’t just do whatever we want without any regard for the environment.
But when Nova Scotia Power decides to reopen a coal-fired generating facility in Cape Breton, it shows that there is still a place for coal in Canada.
