View source for Coal in Canada

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{{use Canadian English|date=July 2020}}
{{use dmy dates|date=July 2020}}
{{Coal sidebar|state=collapsed}}
{{Electricity generation in Canada}}
'''Coal reserves in Canada''' rank 13th largest in the world (following the [[former Soviet Union]], the [[United States]], the [[People's Republic of China]] and [[Australia]]) at approximately 10 billion tons, 0.6% of the world total.<ref>[https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/coal The Canadian Encyclopedia – Coal]</ref> This represents more energy than all of the oil and gas in the country combined.  The coal industry generates CDN$5 billion annually.<ref>[http://www.coal.ca/content/index.php?option=com_content&task=section&id=9&Itemid=55 Coal in Canada] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080508160815/http://www.coal.ca/content/index.php?option=com_content&task=section&id=9&Itemid=55 |date=8 May 2008}}</ref> Most of Canada's [[coal mining]] occurs in the west of the country.<ref>[http://canadaonline.about.com/gi/dynamic/offsite.htm?zi=1/XJ/Ya&sdn=canadaonline&cdn=newsissues&tm=6&f=10&tt=14&bt=0&bts=0&zu=http%3A//www.coal.ca/coalincan.htm Maps of coal in Canada]{{Dead link|date=July 2020 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> [[British Columbia]] operates nine coal mines,<ref>{{cite report |title=British Columbia Geological Survey Information Circular 2020-02 |url=http://cmscontent.nrs.gov.bc.ca/geoscience/PublicationCatalogue/InformationCircular/BCGS_IC2020-02.pdf |publisher=British Columbia Ministry of Energy, Mines and Petroleum Resources |access-date=1 June 2020 |quote=The Quinsam mine on Vancouver Island ceased operations in June.  }}</ref> [[Alberta]] nine, [[Coal mining in Saskatchewan|Saskatchewan]] three and [[New Brunswick]] one.  [[Nova Scotia]] operates several small-scale mines, [[Westray Mine|Westray]] having closed following the 1992 disaster there.<ref name="NRC" />

In 2005, Canada produced 67.3 million tons of coal and its consumption was 60 million tons.  Of this 56 million tons were used for electricity generation.  The remaining four million tons was used in the steel, concrete and other industries.<ref name="NRC">[http://www.nrcan.gc.ca/ms/cmy/2005revu/coal_e.htm National Resources Canada – Coal] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080516095926/http://www.nrcan.gc.ca/ms/cmy/2005revu/coal_e.htm |date=16 May 2008 }}</ref> The largest consumers of coal in Canada were Alberta and Ontario.  In 1997, Alberta accounted for 47% of Canada's coal consumption at 26.2 million tons, and Ontario accounted for 25% at 13.8 million tons.  Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Nova Scotia and New Brunswick also use coal to generate electricity to varying degrees.<ref>[http://canadaonline.about.com/gi/dynamic/offsite.htm?zi=1/XJ/Ya&sdn=canadaonline&cdn=newsissues&tm=8&f=10&tt=14&bt=0&bts=0&zu=http%3A//www.cbc.ca/news/background/energy/ CBC News on energy in Canada]{{Dead link|date=July 2020 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>

In 2016, The Government of Canada, with the support of all provinces except Manitoba and Saskatchewan, decided to phase out the use of coal-fired power plants by 2030 in order to meet its [[Paris climate agreement]] commitments as declared in the [[Pan-Canadian Framework on Clean Growth and Climate Change]]. The decision affected 50 communities dependent on a nearby coal mine or power plant for its economy, and 3,000 to 3,900 workers who worked in the 13 power stations and nine nearby mines that were still active in 2016 across Alberta, Saskatchewan, New Brunswick and Nova Scotia.<ref name=":0" /> In November 2017, the Government of Canada co-founded the [[Powering Past Coal Alliance]]. As of June 2024, only eight operational [[coal-fired power station]]s remained in [[Canada]]. 

==Overview==

Canada exports both the higher and lower grades of coal—[[metallurgical coal]] and thermal coal.<ref name="NaPo_Morgan_20150302">{{Cite news|last=Morgan|first=Geoffrey|date=2 March 2015|title=PDAC 2015: Canadian coal exports poised to jump after takeover of long-suffering Coalspur|newspaper=Financial Post|url=https://financialpost.com/commodities/mining/pdac-2015-canadian-coal-exports-poised-to-jump-after-takeover-of-long-suffering-coalspur|access-date=19 July 2020}}</ref> According to a February 2015 [[Natural Resources Canada]] report, in 2013, "Canadian coal exports totalled $5.5 billion."<ref name="NaPo_Morgan_20150302"/> Ninety-three percent of coal exports were the higher-grade coking coal.<ref name="NaPo_Morgan_20150302"/> In 2013 there were only two coal mines in Canada producing the lower grade thermal coal for export—[[Westmoreland Coal Company]]'s Coal Valley and Hillsborough Resources Limited's Quinsam mine.<ref name="NaPo_Morgan_20150302"/> A third thermal coal for export mining project—the Vista Coal Project in northern Alberta—had received regulatory approval in the 1980s, and again in 2014, but the price of thermal coal had dropped dramatically from 2011 to 2014 and the project stalled. The project was revived in 2015 when American billionaire coal investor purchased Vista. Thermal coal was exported from Vista in 2019.<ref name="NaPo_Morgan_20150302"/>

For several years, coal production decreased as provincial and federal governments sought to phase out its use in favor of [[renewable energy]] in order to combat [[global warming]].<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1" />

By 2018, there was an increase global coal prices and improvements in thermal coal mining, which led to an increase in coal mining activity.<ref name="jwnenergy_Bentein_20190401"/>
Most of Canada's coal reserves are located in Alberta.<ref name="NRC_2013">{{cite web |url=http://www.asiapacificpartnership.org/pdf/Coalmining/expo_vegas/Overview_Canada_Coal_Sector.pdf |title=Overview of Canada's Coal Sector |work=Natural Resources Canada |access-date=6 March 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130525231929/http://www.asiapacificpartnership.org/pdf/Coalmining/expo_vegas/Overview_Canada_Coal_Sector.pdf |archive-date=25 May 2013 |url-status=usurped}}</ref>

In 2010, Canada ranked [[List of countries by coal production|15th]] in the world in coal production, with a total production of 67.9&nbsp;million tonnes.<ref name="NRC_2013"/>

Coal was first mined in Canada in 1639 when the first mine was opened in [[Grand Lake, New Brunswick]]. [[First Nations in Canada|First Nations]] would identify deposits, and the mined product would be used for tasks such as burning and trading. During the [[New France]] period, a large mine was built in [[Port Morien|Cow Bay, Nova Scotia]] on [[Cape Breton Island]] to supply to [[Louisbourg fortress]].<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1">{{Cite web|title=Coal in Canada {{!}} The Canadian Encyclopedia|url=https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/coal|access-date=8 July 2020|website=www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca}}</ref>

==Background==
[[File:At the mouth of a coal mine, Edmonton, Alta.jpg|thumb|A group of miners outside the entrance of a coal mine in Edmonton, Alberta around 1910]]

In the late 18th century, industrial mining begun in Canada, which helped propel Canada's [[industrialization]]. Infrastructure for its transportation and shipping was built. Cape Breton supplied [[Boston]] and other American ports in Coal and had 21 coal mines by 1871, but they were all abandoned in the early 20th century.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1" />

In [[Western Canada]], coal was first mined on [[Vancouver Island]] in the mid-19th century. The development of the [[Canadian Pacific railway]] led to mines being built in towns along its route in [[Alberta]]. By 1911, Western Canada was producing most of the country's coal, and Alberta was the country's largest producing province.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1" />

Working in Canadian coal mines was very dangerous. Deadly mine disasters occurred in multiple locations, including [[Hillcrest mine disaster|Hillcrest, Alberta]] and [[Springhill mining disaster|Springhill, Nova Scotia]]. Harsh working conditions in Coal mines and coal-powered factories led to the establishment of [[Trade unions in Canada|Canada's trade union movement]]. Major coal strikes occurred in Cape Breton in the 1920s and [[Estevan riot|Estevan, Saskatchewan]] in the 1930s.<ref name=":0" />

Following the [[Second World War]], economic sectors that previously used coal such as domestic heating, industrial energy, and transportation energy started using [[petroleum]]. However, Canada's coal production remained relevant due to the exportation of [[metallurgical coal]] to [[Japan]]. Following the [[1970s energy crisis]], Canada's coal production grew rapidly as it became more cost-competitive and new export markets emerged in other Asian countries.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1" />

==Economic impact==
[[File:Canada Coal Production.png|thumb|Coal production in Canada, 1940–2012]]

In 2016, "mining, processing, and related services from thermal and metallurgical coal contributed an estimated $4 billion to Canada's economy, or roughly 0,2%. of Canada's GDP," according to [[Natural Resources Canada]]. NRC reported that about 50 percent of this "GDP contribution came from metallurgical coal" and, in comparison, "clean energy accounted for 1.3% of Canada’s GDP."<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|last=Government of Canada|first=Public Services and Procurement Canada|date=December 2018|title=A Just and Fair Transition for Canadian Coal Power Workers and Communities|url=http://publications.gc.ca/site/archivee-archived.html?url=http://publications.gc.ca/collections/collection_2019/eccc/En4-361-2019-eng.pdf|access-date=8 July 2020|website=publications.gc.ca}}</ref>

==Coal in Alberta==
{{main|Coal in Alberta}}
In 2018, coal mining in Alberta accounted for $10 million in royalties for the province, according to [[Alberta Energy]]'s Coal and Mineral Development Unit's "2018 Year in Review".<ref name="jwnenergy_Bentein_20190401">{{Cite news| last = Bentein| first = Jim| title = Alberta coal mining activity rebounds in 2018 |series=Markets & Investment| work = JWN Energy| access-date = 19 July 2020| date = 1 April 2019| url = https://www.jwnenergy.com/article/2019/4/coal-mining-activity-alberta-rebounds-2018/}}</ref> In 2018, Alberta's coal production totaled approximately 20 million tonnes. Coal production had reached a peak 2016−approximately 25 million tonnes, representing about $20 million in royalties.<ref name="jwnenergy_Bentein_20190401"/>

Coal formations in what is now the province of Alberta, originated approximately 140 and 65 million years ago.<ref name="albertaviews_20200701">{{Cite magazine| title = The Plans to Strip-Mine Coal in the Mountains| magazine = Alberta Views – The Magazine for Engaged Citizens| access-date =19 July 2020| date = 1 July 2019| url = https://albertaviews.ca/plans-strip-mine-coal-mountains/}}</ref> The collision between the two immense plates had pushed up the Rocky Mountains while depressing the North American continent's interior.<ref name="albertaviews_20200701"/> New layers of growth crushed and buried layers of peat, shale, and sandstone, compressing them into coal beds.<ref name="albertaviews_20200701"/> The oldest coal deposits were pushed closer to the surface about 80 to 55 million years ago, forming part of the Rocky Mountains's foothills and Front Ranges.<ref name="albertaviews_20200701"/>

The coal beds that lie under the prairies are of an inferior, impure grade, which is not capable of firing blast furnaces essential to steel-making.<ref name="albertaviews_20200701"/> The [[Coalspur Formation]] in the [[Western Canadian Sedimentary Basin|Western Canada Sedimentary Basin]] in the foothills of southwestern [[Alberta]],<ref name=Mossop24>{{Cite web|url=http://ags.aer.ca/reports/atlas-of-the-western-canada-sedimentary-basin.htm|title=The Geological Atlas of the Western Canada Sedimentary Basin, Chapter 24: Upper Cretaceous and Tertiary strata of the Western Canada Sedimentary Basin|author=Mossop, G.D. and Shetsen, I. (compilers), Canadian Society of Petroleum Geologists|year=1994|access-date=20 June 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160701131122/http://ags.aer.ca/reports/atlas-of-the-western-canada-sedimentary-basin.htm|archive-date=1 July 2016|url-status=dead}}</ref> has large quantities of high-quality coal.<ref name="cbc_Fletcher_20200707"/><ref>Mackay, B.R. 1949. Coal areas of Alberta. Geological Survey of Canada, Atlas to accompany estimate of coal reserves for the Royal Commission on Coal.</ref> The Coalspur Formation runs from south of the [[Wapiti River]] to the [[North Saskatchewan River]].<ref name=Map600>{{Cite web |url=http://ags.aer.ca/data-maps-models/maps.htm |title=Bedrock Geology of Alberta. Alberta Geological Survey, Map 600 |author1=Prior, G. J. |author2=Hathaway, B. |author3=Glombick, P.M. |author4=Pana, D.I. |author5=Banks, C.J. |author6=Hay, D.C. |author7=Schneider, C.L. |author8=Grobe, M. |author9=Elgr, R. |author10=Weiss, J.A. |name-list-style=amp|year=2013 |access-date=20 June 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160626164710/http://ags.aer.ca/data-maps-models/maps.htm |archive-date=26 June 2016 |url-status=dead }}</ref> The Coalspur coal zone is about {{convert|120|m|ft}} to {{convert|200|m|ft}} thick.<ref name=Glass>Glass, D.J. (editor) 1997. Lexicon of Canadian Stratigraphy, vol. 4, Western Canada including eastern British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan and southern Manitoba. Canadian Society of Petroleum Geologists, Calgary, 1423 p. on CD-ROM. {{ISBN|0-920230-23-7}}.</ref>

The [[Blackfoot Confederacy|''Siksika'' —Blackfoot and the ''Kainai''—Blood people]], called an area on the banks of the [[Oldman River]] the ''Sik-ooh-kotoki'' or "place of the black rocks."<ref name="cbc_Fletcher_20200707"/> This was the site of the first commercial coal mine, opened in 1874 by an entrepreneur from New York City.<ref name="cbc_Fletcher_20200707"/>

In 1793, [[Hudson's Bay Company]] surveyor [[Peter Fidler]] identified a seam of high-quality coal near the [[Red Deer River]].<ref name="cbc_Fletcher_20200707"/>

In 1882, a large mine became operational, leading to the formation of towns, such as Coalbanks, now known as [[Lethbridge]], then Coaldale, Coalhurst, and Black Diamond.<ref name="cbc_Fletcher_20200707"/>

In 1976, the Progressive Conservative government under then Premier [[Peter Lougheed]] restricted open-pit mines in most of Alberta's Rocky Mountains and Foothills through the Coal Development Policy. Alberta's last open pit mine closed in 1983.<ref name="cbc_Fletcher_20200707">{{Cite news| last1 = Fletcher| first1 = Robson| last2 = Drew| first2 = Anderson| last3 = Omstead| first3 = Jordan| title = Bringing coal back: Alberta's new bet on an old fuel| access-date = 17 July 2020| date = 7 July 2020| url = https://newsinteractives.cbc.ca/longform/bringing-coal-back}}</ref>

In 2016, then NDP Premier [[Rachel Notley]] announced the elimination of all coal-fired power stations in the province by 2030.<ref name="Phasing out coal">{{Cite web|url=https://www.alberta.ca/climate-coal-electricity.aspx|title=Phasing out coal|website=alberta.ca|language=en-CA|access-date=24 January 2020}}</ref>

Coal mines closed in the Crowsnest Pass, Canmore, Nordegg, and Grande Cache, among others.<ref name="albertaviews_20200701"/>

By 2020, coal-fired power stations in operation in Alberta included the [[Battle River Generating Station|Battle River]], [[Genesee Generating Station|Genesee]], [[H. R. Milner Generating Station|H.R. Milner]], [[Keephills Generating Station|Keephills]], [[Sheerness Generating Station|Sheerness]], and [[Sundance Power Station|Sundance]] stations.

According to [[Alberta Energy]]'s 2018 '  ''Review'', there was an increase in bituminous coal mining activity following a decrease for several years. In 2018, mining operations have restarted, new greenfield operations began, and new mining projects were proposed.<ref name="jwnenergy_Bentein_20190401"/> According to the  ''Review''  two major factors contributed to the increase in coal mining activity−an increase in global coal prices and recent improvements in thermal coal.<ref name="jwnenergy_Bentein_20190401"/> By 2019, the Grande Cache mine reopened.

As of June 2024, Alberta had phased out all coal fired electrical generation, with the remaining plants converting over to natural gas generation.

==Coal in British Columbia==
In 2019, coal sales reached $5.08 billion US,<ref name="BC_gov"/> making coal the province's "most valuable mined commodity".<ref name="BC_gov">{{Cite web| last = Mines| first = Ministry of Energy and| title = Overview of coal in BC – Province of British Columbia| access-date =17 July 2020| url = https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/industry/mineral-exploration-mining/british-columbia-geological-survey/geology/coal-overview}}</ref> About 85% of B.C.'s coal is a higher grade of coal, known as [[metallurgical coal]] or coking coal.<ref name=coalfacts>{{Cite web|url=https://globalnews.ca/news/627069/the-coal-facts-thermal-coal-vs-metallurgical-coal/|title=The Coal Facts: thermal coal vs. metallurgical coal|website=Global News|language=en|date=10 June 2013|author=Paula Baker|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130613165504/https://globalnews.ca/news/627069/the-coal-facts-thermal-coal-vs-metallurgical-coal/|archive-date=13 June 2013}}</ref> It is used to produce good-quality [[coke (fuel)|coke]]. which is essential in [[blast furnace]]s used to make [[steelmaking|steel]] from iron ore.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://frontlineaction.org/coking-coal-steel-production-alternatives/|title=Coking-Steel Production Alternatives|access-date=18 July 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181215174555/https://frontlineaction.org/coking-coal-steel-production-alternatives/|archive-date=15 December 2018|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.worldcoal.org/coal/uses-coal/how-steel-produced|title=How Steel Is Produced|date=14 December 2020 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.steel.org/making-steel/how-its-made/processes/processes-info/coke-production-for-blast-furnace-ironmaking.aspx|title=Coke Production for Blast Furnace Ironmaking|access-date=5 March 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170208204105/https://www.steel.org/making-steel/how-its-made/processes/processes-info/coke-production-for-blast-furnace-ironmaking.aspx|archive-date=8 February 2017|url-status=dead}}</ref> Most coal from British Columbia mines is exported on the international markets through coal ports near Vancouver or Prince Rupert.<ref name="BC_gov"/>

Major coals mine fields in the province include a field in the Kootenay Mountains in southeastern B.C., and Peace coalfields in northeastern B.C.<ref name="BC_gov"/> British Columbia's largest producing coal field is in [[Elk Valley (British Columbia)]], which is located in the [[Kootenay Mountains]], about 60 kilometres from the borders of [[Montana]] and Alberta. It has had operational coal mines for over a century. By 2020, [[Teck Resources]] owned all five coal mines in that region including Elkford Operations, an open-pit mine just west of the Alberta border with British Columbia.<ref name="cbc_Fletcher_20200707"/>

==Transition to natural gas, nuclear, and renewables==
In 2003, the [[Dalton McGuinty|McGuinty]] government of Ontario [[Electricity policy of Ontario#Coal|set a goal]] of closing all [[coal-fired power station]]s, to be replaced with healthier and more environmentally-friendly energy sources. As part of the coal phase-out, the provincial government agreed for [[Bruce Power]] to refurbish units 1 and 2 of Bruce A of the [[Bruce Nuclear Generating Station]] to replace lost generating capacity.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.world-nuclear-news.org/C-Refurbished_Bruce_approaching_full_strength-1810127.html|title=Refurbished Bruce approaching full strength|date=2012-10-18|website=www.world-nuclear-news.org|access-date=2016-08-20}}</ref> According to a 2014 article, long-term health problems caused by coal made it twice as expensive as wind energy.<ref>{{citation|first=Jennifer |last=Wilson |title=Ontario's power crunch: What's the answer? |publisher=CBC News |date=25 September 2007 |url=http://www.cbc.ca/ontariovotes2007/features/features-power.html |access-date=6 September 2010}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=http://m.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/time-to-lead/cheap-and-dirty-where-provinces-diverge-on-energy-crossroads/article2162021/?service=mobile |title=Archived copy |website=[[The Globe and Mail]] |access-date=18 May 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140518223521/http://m.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/time-to-lead/cheap-and-dirty-where-provinces-diverge-on-energy-crossroads/article2162021/?service=mobile |archive-date=18 May 2014 |url-status=dead }}</ref> The OPG Atikokan Generating Station, coal-fired power generation plant, which had been in operation for 27 years, was shut down in 2012. Work on a $170 million biomass conversion project—the first [[biomass|biomass conversion]] project in Ontario, was undertaken at that time.<ref name="CBM_Macklin_2012">{{Cite web| title = OPG Atikokan burns its last piece of coal| work = Canadian Biomass Magazine| access-date = 19 July 2020| date = 12 September 2012| url = https://www.canadianbiomassmagazine.ca/opg-atikokan-burns-its-last-piece-of-coal-3647/ |first= Andrew |last=Macklin |location=Atikokan, Ontario}}</ref> It was anticipated that the project would "create 200 construction jobs and help protect existing jobs at the plant" and provide "new economic opportunities for Ontario's forestry sector, which will provide the biomass fuel to the plant".<ref name="CBM_Macklin_2012"/> As part of [[Ontario]]'s phase out of coal-fired electricity generation, the [[Thunder Bay Generating Station]] (TBGS)—the final coal plant in Ontario—stopped burning coal in April 2014.<ref name="TBNW_20150215">{{Cite web| title = Generating station returns to grid with advanced biomass| work = TBNewsWatch.com| access-date = 19 July 2020 |date=15 February 2015| url = https://www.tbnewswatch.com/local-news/generating-station-returns-to-grid-with-advanced-biomass-400177}}</ref> The TBGS underwent a biomass conversion to run on advanced biomass—wood pellets. It was recommissioned on 9 February 2015.<ref name="TBNW_20150215"/> 

In 2016, the [[Government of Alberta]] announced the elimination of all coal-fired power stations in the province by 2030.<ref name="Phasing out coal"/> The [[Government of New Brunswick]] made the same announcement the following year.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.nbpower.com/en/about-us/news-media-centre/news/2017/nb-power-seeks-new-fuel-source-for-belledune-generating-station/|title=NB Power seeks new fuel source for Belledune Generating Station|website=nbpower.com|access-date=24 January 2020}}</ref> Also in 2016, the government of [[Canada]] announced the goal of phasing out the use of [[coal-fired power station]]s across the country in favour of less polluting alternatives for electricity generation by 2030.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/business/canada-g20-coal-energy-1.5143694|title=Canada a leader among G20 for plan to phase out coal, says report|last=Naidu-Ghelani|first=Rajeshni|date=21 May 2019|publisher=Canadian Broadcasting Corporation|access-date=27 January 2020}}</ref> In response, companies such as [[TransAlta]] and [[Capital Power]] began planning the conversion of their [[coal-fired power station]]s to burning [[natural gas]].<ref name=TAC>{{Cite web|url=https://www.transalta.com/about-us/coal-to-gas/|title=Coal-to-Gas Conversions Project|year=2019|website=TransAlta|access-date=24 January 2020|archive-date=16 March 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230316000922/http://www.transalta.com/about-us/coal-to-gas/|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.capitalpower.com/sustainability/innovation/dual-fuel/|title=Dual-Fuel Flexibility|website=Capital Power|language=en-CA|access-date=24 January 2020|archive-date=21 January 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210121180440/https://www.capitalpower.com/sustainability/innovation/dual-fuel/|url-status=dead}}</ref>

== List of coal-fired power stations ==
[[File:Lingan Generating Station.jpg|thumb|right|[[Lingan Generating Station]], the largest coal-fired power station in [[Eastern Canada]]]]

Only eight operational [[coal-fired power station]]s remained as of June 2024 in [[Canada]]. 

{| class="wikitable sortable"
! Name
! Province
! Coordinates
! Capacity<br>([[Megawatt|MW]])
! Owner
! Fuel type
! Retirement
! class="unsortable" | {{Tooltip|Ref|References}}
|-
| [[Belledune Generating Station|Belledune]]
| {{NB}}
| {{coord|47.905962|N|65.863468|W|format=dms|name=Belledune}}
| 458
| [[NB Power]]
| [[Bituminous coal|Coal]]
| 2030
|<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nbpower.com/en/about-us/news-media-centre/news/2017/nb-power-seeks-new-fuel-source-for-belledune-generating-station/|title=NB Power seeks new fuel source for Belledune Generating Station|website=nbpower.com|access-date=13 February 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230320103725/https://www.nbpower.com/en/about-us/news-media-centre/news/2017/nb-power-seeks-new-fuel-source-for-belledune-generating-station/|archive-date=2023-03-20|url-status=dead}}</ref>
|-
| [[Boundary Dam Power Station|Boundary Dam]]
| {{SK}}
| {{coord|49|5|47|N|103|1|49|W|name=Boundary Dam}}
| 672
| [[SaskPower]]
| [[Lignite]]
| TBD {{NoteTag|Unit 3 will continue to operate as normal as it has [[Carbon capture and storage|carbon capture]] technology installed. Units 4 and 5 will be retired by 2022 and 2025, respectively. Unit 6 will either have carbon capture technology installed or be decommissioned at an unknown date.<ref name=CBC1>{{Cite news|url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/saskatchewan/sask-ottawa-coal-agreement-1.4974402|title=Saskatchewan reaches deal with Ottawa on coal-burning power plants|date=11 January 2019|publisher=CBC News|access-date=12 February 2020}}</ref>}}
| 
|-
| [[Lingan Generating Station|Lingan]]
| {{NS}}
| {{coord|46|14|12|N|60|2|14|W|name=Lingan}}
| 632.8
| [[Nova Scotia Power]]
| [[Bituminous coal|Coal]]
| 2030 conversion to [[Fuel oil|Number 6 fuel oil]]<ref name="cbc1">https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/nova-scotia/nova-scotia-power-plans-to-burn-heavy-fuel-oil-1.6895930 {{Bare URL inline|date=August 2024}}</ref>
| 
|-
| [[Point Aconi Generating Station|Point Aconi]]
| {{NS}}
| {{coord|46.321633|N|60.329987|W|format=dms|name=Point Aconi}}
| 165
| [[Nova Scotia Power]]
| [[Petroleum coke|Coke]] <small>(53%)</small><br>[[Bituminous coal|Coal]] <small>(47%)</small>
| 2029 shutdown<ref name="cbc1"/>
| 
|-
| [[Point Tupper Generating Station|Point Tupper]]
| {{NS}}
| {{coord|45.5869|N|61.3481|W|format=dms|name=Point Tupper}}
| 148
| [[Nova Scotia Power]]
| [[Bituminous coal|Coal]]
| 2029 conversion to [[natural gas]]<ref name="cbc1"/>
| 
|-
| [[Poplar River Power Station|Poplar River]]
| {{SK}}
| {{coord|49|3|27|N|105|28|59|W|name=Poplar River}}
| 582
| [[SaskPower]] 
| [[Lignite]]
| 2030
|<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.swiftcurrentonline.com/local/impending-power-plant-closure-means-trying-times-ahead-for-coronach|title=Impending Power Plant Closure Means Trying Times Ahead for Coronach|last=McElroy|first=Daniel|website=SwiftCurrentOnline.com|language=en-gb|access-date=13 February 2020}}</ref>
|-
| [[Shand Power Station|Shand]]
| {{SK}}
| {{coord|49|5|16|N|102|51|49|W|name=Shand}}
| 276
| [[SaskPower]] 
| [[Bituminous coal|Coal]]
| 2030 {{NoteTag|Installation of [[Carbon capture and storage|carbon capture]] technology by 2024 would allow the power station to operate until its originally planned decommissioning of 2042.<ref name=CBC1/>}}
| 
|-
| [[Trenton Generating Station|Trenton]]
|{{NS}}
|{{Coord|45|37|13|N|62|38|53|W|name=Trenton}}
| 305
| [[Nova Scotia Power]]
| [[Bituminous coal|Coal]]
| 2029 shutdown<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/nova-scotia/nova-scotia-power-plans-to-burn-heavy-fuel-oil-1.6895930| first=Paul | last=Withers | title=Nova Scotia Power plans to burn heavy fuel oil at phased-out coal plants|website=CBC News|date=4 Jul 2023 | accessdate=3 August 2024}}</ref>
| 
|-
|}

== List of decommissioned coal-fired power stations ==
List of former electrical generating facilities in Canada that were coal fueled. Only facilities that have permanently shut down all of their electricity generating units are included.

{| class="wikitable sortable"
! Name
! Province
! [[Geographic coordinate system|Location]]
! Capacity<br>([[Megawatt|MW]])
! Fuel type
! Owner
! In commission 
! Decommission date
! Smokestack<br>configuration<br><ref>[[List of tallest structures in Canada#Tallest smokestacks/chimneys in Canada]]</ref>{{Circular reference|date=March 2021}}
|-
| [[Battle River Generating Station]] 
| {{AB}}
| {{Coord|52.468889|-112.133889|name=Battle River}}
| 56
| [[Coal-fired power station|Coal]]
| Heartland Generation
| 
| 1998
| 
|-
| [[Dalhousie Generating Station|Dalhousie]]
| {{NB}}
| {{coord|48.051919|-66.370770|name=Dalhousie (Demolished)}}
| 315
| [[Coal-fired power station|Coal]]
| [[NB Power]]
| 1967
| 2012
| 167&nbsp;m (551&nbsp;ft) & 162&nbsp;m (532&nbsp;ft)
|-
| [[Grand Lake Generating Station]] 
| {{NB}}
| {{Coord|46.057244|-66.005067|name=Grand Lake}}
| 57
| [[Coal-fired power station|Coal]]
| [[NB Power]]
| 1931
| 2010
| 
|-
| Flavin's Lane 
| {{NL}}
| {{Coord|47.568633|-52.708150|name=Flavin's Lane}}
| 0.186
| [[Coal-fired power station|Coal]]
| [[Newfoundland Power|St. John's Electric Light Co.]] 
| 17 October 1885
| 8 July 1892
| 10&nbsp;m (32&nbsp;ft) ×1
|-
| [[Genesee Generating Station|Genesee]]
| {{AB}}
| {{coord|53|20|35|N|114|18|11|W|name=Genesee}}
| 1,286
| [[Bituminous coal|Coal]] <small>(81%)</small><br>[[Natural gas]] <small>(19%)</small>
| [[Capital Power Corporation|Capital Power]] <small>(83.3%)</small><br>[[TransAlta]] <small>(16.7%)</small>
| 2023 {{NoteTag|Units 1 and 2 to burn 50% coal and 50% natural gas by spring 2021 and mid-2020, respectively. Unit 3 to burn 60% coal and 40% gas by spring 2020, and to be adjusted to a 50/50 ratio at a later date. The entire power station converted to 100% natural gas in 2024.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.spglobal.com/marketintelligence/en/news-insights/trending/l3IFZPkrTphtPB3OcfB0Uw2|title=Capital Power commits to gas co-firing at Genesee plant|website=spglobal.com|language=en-us|access-date=13 February 2020}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Alberta set to retire coal power by 2023, ahead of 2030 provincial deadline|url=https://globalnews.ca/news/7502144/alberta-coal-power-ahead-of-schedule/|access-date=2020-12-06|website=Global News|language=en-US}}</ref>}}
| 2024
|-
| [[H. R. Milner Generating Station]] 
| {{AB}}
| {{Coord|54.007470|-119.103187|name=H.R. Milner}}
| 158
| [[Coal-fired power station|Coal]]
| Milner Power
| 
| 2019
| 
|-
| [[Hearn Generating Station|Hearn]]
| {{ON}}
| {{coord|43|38.730|N|79|20.105|W|region:CA-ON_type:landmark|display=inline,title}}
| 1,200
| [[Coal-fired power station|Coal]]
| [[Ontario Power Generation|OPG]]
| 1951
| 1983
| 215&nbsp;m (705&nbsp;ft) ×1
|-
| [[Keephills Generating Station]]
| {{AB}}
| {{Coord|53.448779|-114.450256|name=Keephills}}
| 861
| [[Coal-fired power station|Coal]]
| [[Capital Power]]
| 
| 2021
| 
|-
| [[Lakeview Generating Station|Lakeview]]
| {{ON}}
| {{coord|43|34|16|N|79|33|6|W|name=Lakeview (Demolished)}}
| 2,400
| [[Coal-fired power station|Coal]]
| [[Ontario Power Generation|OPG]]
| 1962
| 2005
| 150&nbsp;m (492&nbsp;ft) ×4
|-
| [[Lambton Generating Station|Lambton]]
| {{ON}}
| {{coord|42|47|50|N|82|28|10|W|name=Lambton (Decommissioned)}}
| 1,976
| [[Coal-fired power station|Coal]]
| [[Ontario Power Generation|OPG]]
| 1969
| 2013 
| 168&nbsp;m (550&nbsp;ft) ×3
|-
| [[Nanticoke Generating Station|Nanticoke]]
| {{ON}}
| {{coord|42|48|0|N|80|3|1|W|name=Nanticoke (Demolished)}}
| 3,964
| [[Coal-fired power station|Coal]]
| [[Ontario Power Generation|OPG]]
| 1973
| 2013
| 198&nbsp;m (650&nbsp;ft) ×2
|-
| [[Sundance Power Station]]
| {{AB}}
| {{Coord|53|30|27|N|114|33|26|W}}
| 812
| [[Coal-fired power station|Coal]]
| [[TransAlta]]
| 
| 2021
| 
|-
| [[Thunder Bay Generating Station|Thunder Bay]]
| {{ON}}
| {{Coord|48|21|36|N|89|13|12|W|name=Thunder Bay (Decommissioned)}}
| 306
| [[Coal-fired power station|Coal]] (1963-2014)<br />[[Biomass power station|Biomass]] (2015-2018)
| [[Ontario Power Generation|OPG]]
| 1963
| 2018<ref>{{citation|url=http://www.opg.com/power/fossil/thunderbay.asp|author=Ontario Power Generation|title=Thunder Bay Generating Station|accessdate=2010-08-21|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20100112121615/http://www.opg.com/power/fossil/thunderbay.asp|archivedate=2010-01-12}}</ref>
| 198&nbsp;m (650&nbsp;ft) & 107&nbsp;m (350&nbsp;ft)
|-
| [[Wabamun Generating Station|Wabamun]]
| {{AB}}
| {{coord|53|33|30|N|114|29|17|W|name=Wabamun (Demolished)}}
| 582
| [[Coal-fired power station|Coal]]
| [[TransAlta]]
| 1956
| 2010
| 156 (512&nbsp;ft) ×3
|-
|}

===Notes===
{{reflist|group=note}}

==See also==
* [[List of coal mines in Canada]]
* [[List of coalfields#Canada|List of coalfields in Canada]]
* [[Coal mining in Saskatchewan]]
* [[Petroleum industry in Canada]]

==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}

{{North America topic|Coal in}}
{{World topic|prefix=List of coal-fired power stations in|title=List of coal-fired power stations by country|noredlinks=yes|state=expanded}}

[[Category:Coal in Canada| ]]
[[Category:Mining in Canada]]
[[Category:Lists of power stations in Canada]]
[[Category:Lists of coal-fired power stations]]