Four coal-fired units to be shut down in Ontario

[phantom power]

In 2009 generation by Ontario's coal plants was at the lowest levels in 45 years. In 2004, the Ontario Ministry of Energy estimated that when the health and environmental impacts are factored into the cost of electricity, coal costs 16.4 cents per kilowatt hour compared to 9.6 cents for wind. The 2008 report by the Ontario Medical Association, "Illness Cost of Air Pollution" found that air pollution was a factor in almost 9,500 premature deaths each year in Ontario. In 2005 smog was a factor for over 16,000 hospital admissions.

"Nurses are pleased with today's announcement because it will save lives. We know up to 250 deaths each year are directly related to the burning of coal. That's why we are calling on the government to keep moving forward and accelerate its plan to shut down all coal plants," says Doris Grinspun, Executive Director of the Registered Nurses' Association of Ontario (RNAO) in a press release.

The RNAD is pleased that the four units are shutting down but would like the 11 remaining units that are running to also be non-operational.

"Closing the 11 remaining coal units now instead of four years down the road would save 1,000 lives," adds Grinspun.

Read more: http://www.digitaljournal.com/article/298365#ixzz11KJjXO00

[OnlinePoker]

1. Closing the 11 remaining coal units now instead of four years down the road would save 1,000 lives

No it won't. It will only delay the deaths of those 1000 people until a future date. I really hate when they make this claim. It should really say "...would extend 1000 lives". Just a thing that bugs me when people make claims that anything "saves lives".

[elehhhhna]

2. okay "won't cause the early deaths of thousands of people". Better now??

[Moonbat2]

3. but

having no power will cause many more deaths,suffering ect. There is a cause and effect.Gets real cold up there.(burning whale blubber just wont do:D

[elehhhhna]

6. yes, ontario is going to murder it's citizens by withholding pwer and heat.

got it

[OnlinePoker]

4. Yes, much...thanks. n/t

[depakid]

5. Excellent news-

Wish we could get onto that bandwagon down under.

[Nihil]

7. Good news! K&R (n/t)