COAL: 2030 VS. 2040
Nova Scotia Power's integrated resource plan (IRP) does not confirm that coal will be retired by 2040. Some of the plan's environmental policy scenarios have trajectories that retire all coal plants no later than 2030, while others retire them by 2040.
“Scenarios following the accelerated net-zero by 2045 trajectory retire all coal power plants no later than 2030, while the other scenarios retire all coal plants by 2040. Coal units can be retired earlier if determined to be economic by the optimization model,” states the plan summary.
Cape Breton's three coalfired plants have six coal units between them: Lingan Generating Station has four while Point Aconi power plant and Point Tupper Generation Station have one each.
When asked about a firm timeline for retiring these units, Nova Scotia Power senior communications advisor Jacqueline Foster did not provide an answer, instead saying that NSP is “aligned with the provincial government’s goals for climate action.”
“We know customers want more clean energy and we are committed to reducing our carbon footprint and slowing the impacts of climate change. This includes transitioning coal out of our energy mix,” she wrote in an email.
ENVIRONMENT VS. AFFORDABILITY
Foster said the pace of coal unit retirements needs to be balanced with affordability for NSP’S customers.
“The (IRP’S) modelling work considers scenarios where all coal units are retired by 2040 as well as scenarios that examine coal retirements by 2030.”
She said that NSP has been transitioning to clean energy for more than 15 years and continues to look at ways to accelerate that transition but must balance it with cost.
“It has to be affordable to customers. We look forward to working with the provincial government on its enhanced commitments to supplying affordable, clean energy to Nova Scotians.”
Currently, 33 per cent of the province’s electricity is generated from renewable sources. But 51 per cent comes from solid fuels, which includes coal.
HEALTH BENEFITS
Phasing out coal by 2030 wouldn’t just be good for the environment — it could also bring a host of health benefits.
In its report titled “Canada’s Net Zero Future,” The Canadian Institute for Climate Choices said that a study by the Pembina Institute found that the nation’s planned phase-out of coal power by 2030 would avoid more than 1,000 premature deaths and bring an additional $5 billion in health benefits by 2035.
The Cape Breton Post asked both Nova Scotia Power and a spokesperson for the provincial government’s Department of Energy and Mines whether NSP was consulted prior to the government’s 2030 coal phase-out announcement.
NSP said that government was one of many stakeholders involved in their IRP engagement and consultative planning process (the IRP engagements sessions occurred during mid-late 2019 and periodically in 2020), which included examining coal retirements by 2030. The provincial government spokesperson said the province has been working with its partners “in the federal government, across the Atlantic region and with Nova Scotia Power on how to accelerate getting off coalgenerated power.”
“Nova Scotia Power is a valuable partner in this effort ... We will need the federal government to bring resources to the table to facilitate the work as we support communities that will be affected, and ensure energy remains affordable for Nova Scotians,” said the spokesperson.
Neither specifically answered if NSP was consulted prior to the 2030 coal phaseout announcement in the March 9 Speech from the Throne.