Ontario aims to kick out coal by 2014

The Ontario Power Authority filed a 20-year, $56.9 billion plan this week to cut energy use and boost renewable energy.

The Canadian province's proposal calls for cutting out coal-fired plants by 2014 and doubling of the amount of renewable energy on the grid by 2025.

The power authority said it plans to spend $9.5 billion on conservation alone, aiming to reduce 6,300 megawatts of demand.

The coal-fired plants represent 6,434 MW, which the province will replace with natural gas.

"For two years we have attempted to build a shared understanding of our electricity challenges and options. The plan, and the Ontario Energy Board review and approval process, will help Ontario define its choices further," said Amir Shalaby, Ontario Power Authority VP of power system planning.

The proposal, which would increase electricity costs by 15 percent to 20 percent, needs approval from the Ontario Energy Board.

The approval process is expected to take about a year.

It's not all going to be strictly green, as the authority said it plans to refurbish existing nuclear plants or build new reactors to meet its baseload requirement for 10,249 megawatts of nuclear energy.

The Ontario Power Authority expects to spend $24.3 billion on nuclear, $14.6 billion on renewables, $3.4 billion on natural gas, and $3.8 billion on transmission enhancements.

The authority said the plan would cut emissions of carbon dioxide by 60 percent, sulfur dioxide by 95 percent, nitrogen oxide by 50 percent and that mercury would be eliminated.

Cleantech developments making news in the past 24 hours

• Generating energy underwater from good vibrations
• Indian companies order 300MW in wind power
• Beijing meets "blue sky days" target early
• Finland, Vietnam launch fish fuel project

View the last week of cleantech developments here | Subscribe to full feed