The End of Coal: Ontario’s coal phase-out

Ontario eliminated coal-fired electricity generation by the end of 2014, a process described as the "single largest GHG reduction measure in North America." The transition was primarily driven by public health concerns and the influence of a coalition including the Ontario Medical Association and the Ontario Clean Air Alliance. Key enabling factors included the public ownership of coal plants, which allowed the government to absorb shutdown costs, and the lack of local coal reserves, which minimized economic resistance from producers. While the phase-out significantly reduced greenhouse gas emissions by approximately 34 megatonnes since 2007, the report notes that coal was largely replaced by natural gas rather than renewables. The experience highlights the importance of credible messengers, realistic timelines, and multi-party political consensus in achieving large-scale energy transitions.

• Ontario successfully ended coal-fired electricity generation by the end of 2014, resulting in a reduction of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by approximately 34 megatonnes (Mt) or 17 per cent since 2007.
• Public health concerns were the primary driver of the phase-out, with the Ontario Medical Association (OMA) providing highly credible evidence on the link between coal plants and respiratory illness and death.
• The public ownership of coal plants by the government (via Ontario Power Generation) was a critical enabling condition, as it allowed the state to write off assets and avoid renegotiating contracts with private owners.
• The absence of exploitable coal reserves within Ontario reduced political resistance, as no local coal production jobs were lost during the phase-out.
• Bilateral agreements and legal pressure from the United States, including the Canada-U.S. Air Quality Agreement and a complaint filed by New York's Attorney General, pressured Ontario to address air pollution.
• Multi-party political buy-in was essential for long-term stability, as the Progressive Conservative, Liberal, and New Democratic parties all committed to a coal phase-out in their 2003 election platforms.
• Despite the goal of transitioning to renewables, coal capacity was largely replaced by natural gas due to the lower cost of the fuel.
• The phase-out provided political legitimacy and space for subsequent green energy policies, such as the 2009 Green Energy and Green Economy Act (GEGEA).
• The transition had mixed economic impacts: while it created some new jobs in the biomass sector, it led to the loss of well-paying jobs in specific communities like Atikokan and contributed to rising electricity prices.

APA

Harris, M., Beck, M., & Gerasimchuk, I. (2015). The End of Coal: Ontario’s coal phase-out. International Institute for Sustainable Development. https://www.iisd.org/system/files/publications/end-of-coal-ontario-coal-phase-out.pdf

Chicago

Harris, Melissa, Marisa Beck, and Ivetta Gerasimchuk. The End of Coal: Ontario’s coal phase-out. International Institute for Sustainable Development, 2015. https://www.iisd.org/system/files/publications/end-of-coal-ontario-coal-phase-out.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Harris |first1=Melissa |last2=Beck |first2=Marisa |last3=Gerasimchuk |first3=Ivetta |title=The End of Coal: Ontario’s coal phase-out |publisher=International Institute for Sustainable Development |date=June 2015 |url=https://www.iisd.org/system/files/publications/end-of-coal-ontario-coal-phase-out.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{harris2015end, author = {Harris, Melissa and Beck, Marisa and Gerasimchuk, Ivetta}, title = {{The End of Coal: Ontario’s coal phase-out}}, institution = {International Institute for Sustainable Development}, year = {2015}, month = jun, url = {https://www.iisd.org/system/files/publications/end-of-coal-ontario-coal-phase-out.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }