The Cement Association of Canada (CAC) has applauded news that Ontario’s Premier Wynne and Minister Murray are proposing new regulations to help reduce energy-intensive industries’ reliance on coal and thus bring down greenhouse gas (GhG) emissions. The CAC expects this regulatory change to lead to an annual reduction up to 400 000 t of direct CO2 emissions by 2020.
“It’s a major step forward in reaching Ontario’s GhG reduction goals and a strong sign that the Ontario government is serious about its commitment to climate leadership,” says CAC President and CEO Michael McSweeney. “This move will also bring Ontario into alignment with leading jurisdictions in Europe and other parts of the world, where fuel substitution in cement manufacturing has been well established for decades.”
The proposed regulation will be posted on the Environmental Bill of Rights Registry (EBR) for 60 days and the CAC encourages the public to review the proposal. While it enjoys the support of many environmental and health groups, there remain some misconceptions. “Some people have this idea that we want to burn recyclables,” says Adam Auer, Director of Sustainability with the CAC. “We have no interest in these materials. To qualify as an alternative fuel, a potential fuel source must be non-recyclable and exist outside diversion and recycling programmes, it must meet a low-carbon standard and it must not impact a facility's ability to meet strict air emission limits.”
Adapted from press release by Katherine Guenioui