UPDATED ACTION ALERT: 48 hours to tell Environment Minister Peter Kent to keep his government’s promise

Oct 25, 2011

On August 10, 2011 the Alberta Utilities Commission gave final approval to Calgary-based Maxim Power for the construction of a new conventional coal-fired plant near Grande Cache. This plant would pump out three million tonnes of pollution per year – which is like adding 600,000 cars to Canada’s roads.

The plant was approved despite soon-to-be introduced federal legislation that will phase out the construction of new plants, and despite a promise made by the former environment minster that they would guard against new plants being rushed through the approval process ahead of the July 1, 2015 implementation date for the new, stricter rules around coal plants. You can read more background on the issue here.

TAKE ACTION

The public consultation comment period for these new regulations is about to close on Wednesday October 26. Take a couple of minutes to send this updated message to Minister Kent and Environment Canada Director Blais, demanding an end to the Maxim loophole and quicker phase out of conventional coal.

Subject
Recipients	Hon. Peter Kent, P.C., MP, Caroline Blais - Environmental Stewardship Branch - Department of the Environment
Edit the letter in the box below:
Dear Minister Kent and Ms. Blais, I am writing to express my deep concern about the recent approval in Alberta of the construction of a new 500-megawatt conventional coal-fired power plant. I believe that the Alberta Utilities Commission (AUC) approval of the proposal from Maxim Power to construct this new plant significantly challenges the forthcoming federal greenhouse gas regulations for coal-fired electricity generation announced in June of 2010. In the Globe and Mail on September 9th, Minister Kent, you said: “It was never the intention to create a loophole for short-cutters to get in and get a half-century licence to emit greenhouse gases or to put other toxins into the air which have serious impacts on Canadians living downwind.” Allowing this plant to proceed as proposed will challenge the credibility of the forthcoming regulations by your government. I therefore urge you to live up to the pledge made by your government and to use the tools at your disposal to review Maxim’s application and to ensure that this, or any other noncompliant plant is not allowed to be rushed into service ahead of the federal government’s regulatory timeline. Further, I believe that continued reliance on conventional coal will make it impossible to achieve adequate greenhouse gas reductions in Canada. I urge you to strengthen the regulations to quicker phase out our reliance on conventional coal, one of the most polluting forms of energy. I look forward to hearing what steps you are taking on this critical issue. Sincerely,
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