Canada regulates emissions from coal

Aug. 22, 2011 – 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," says Environment Minister Peter Kent. "We
are taking action in the electricity sector because we recognize the potential
for significant emissions reductions."

The 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 (GHG) emissions and improve air quality.

The gradual phase-out of traditional
coal-fired electricity generation is expected to have a significant effect 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 federal 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, 2011, 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.

For more information and to view the
document: Reduction of Carbon Dioxide Emissions from Coal-fired Generation of
Electricity Regulations, visit www.ec.gc.ca.