The Province of Manitoba says they’re hoping to reduce greenhouse gases by implementing a ban on petroleum coke and coal heating, and with emission taxes on both products for industrial uses.
“Between 2000 and 2011, Manitoba’s population grew by 9.6 per cent, the economy grew by 78 per cent and greenhouse-gas emissions were reduced by seven per cent, the biggest reduction in the west,” said Conservation Minister Gord Mackintosh.
“This is a positive trend, but we need to carefully build on these recent efforts by introducing timely new actions, and designing fair and effective new greenhouse-gas reduction mechanisms for the longer term.”
The ban on petroleum coke heating will begin on June 30, 2014. The ban on coal heating will start on Jan. 1, “with a grace period up to July 1, 2017, if an approved conversion plan is filed by June 30, 2014.” The province will also invest $500,000 from tax revenues to help coal users convert to biomass.
— Staff
