Coal-fired electricity exports criticized

ONTARIO - Ontario exports of coal-generated electricity to the U.S. are killing 130 people annually in the province, environmentalists charge.

That's because 20 per cent of Ontario Power Generation's coal-fired energy is sold stateside and overall coal is blamed for 660 of the 6,000 smog-caused premature deaths here each year.

"We're told that these 660 deaths are necessary because without coal-fired electricity the lights won't stay on in Ontario," Franz Hartmann, executive director of the Toronto Environmental Alliance, said.

"We're here to tell that 130 of those deaths are completely unnecessary," said Hartmann, noting one fifth of the coal-generated power "wasn't made to keep the lights on or the air conditioners running in Ontario."

"It was made to be sent south of the border to make money for Ontario Power Generation," he said, citing a 2005 provincial report government on deaths caused by smog.

Jack Gibbons, executive director of the Ontario Clean Air Alliance, said OPG's $100 million profit from coal sales to the U.S. translates into just 77 cents off the average monthly hydro bill.

"Saving lives and preventing up to 65,000 asthma attacks is more important," said Gibbons, who criticized Premier Dalton McGuinty for breaking a 2003 election promise to ban "non-emergency" coal-fired electricity exports in order to reduce smog.

Dr. Hilary de Veber, a Toronto pediatrician and Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment board member, said bad air is taking its toll on Ontarians.

"Smog kills. When it's not killing people, it is reducing the health of all Ontarians through its many adverse health effects," said de Veber, whose asthmatic young patients are especially vulnerable.

Steve Erwin, an aide to Energy Minister Dwight Duncan, said the environmentalists' claims were "a bit misleading" because coal power is used mostly when domestic electricity demand is at a peak.

OPG spokesperson John Earl said the utility has "absolutely no control over where our products go."

Related News

dwight ball

Lump sum credit on electricity bills as soon as July

ST JOHNS - Most people who pay electricity bills will get a one-time credit as early as July.

The provincial government on Thursday outlined a new directive to the Public Utilities Board to provide a one-time credit for customers whose electricity rates are affected by the price of oil.

Electricity customers who are not a part of the Labrador interconnected system, including those using diesel on the north coast of Labrador, will receive the credit.

The credit, announced at a press conference Thursday morning, will come from the rate stabilization fund, which has an estimated surplus of about $50 million because low oil…

READ MORE
china power lines

There's a Russia-Sized Mystery in China's Electricity Sector

READ MORE

manitoba hydro building

Pandemic causes drop in electricity demand across the province: Manitoba Hydro

READ MORE

canada-finalizes-clean-electricity-regulations-for-2050

Canada Finalizes Clean Electricity Regulations for 2050

READ MORE

indian electricity

OPINION Rewiring Indian electricity

READ MORE