Ohio governor promises to curb coal pollution

Speaking with reporters at Queen's Park following a meeting with Premier Dalton McGuinty recently, Taft conceded Ohio has a long way to go in reducing its smog output.

"We are working very hard to reduce our pollution in the state of Ohio. We've made a lot of progress. We have a lot to make," said the Republican governor.

"We have new higher standards for... emissions. We are putting in place a plan now that will force very significant reductions in those pollutants from those power plants — as we should do," he said.

Ohio, which leads the United States in air pollution caused by its 73 coal-fired plants, is also a major producer of coal.

While coal is enjoying a renaissance south of the border due to rising oil and natural gas prices, officials are trying to curb emission levels due to widespread health concerns.

McGuinty, who has promised to shut down Ontario's five coal-fired plants by 2007, said he wants to "share some of the science and the policies we have" with Ohio.

"What we did talk about was finding a way to work together — not unlike the process we have in place with New York state," the premier said.