The cost of the cheapest solar power could be on par with that of electricity from coal plants by 2010.

During the global concerts, Gore asked fans to commit to a seven-point pledge aimed at cutting carbon emissions. One of these points was “to fight for a moratorium on the construction of any new generating facility that burns coal without the capacity to safely trap and store the CO2.”

Ontario’s coal-fired power plants are the greatest contributors of greenhouse gas emissions.

“The Liberal provincial government has proposed regulation that would make it mandatory under the Environmental Protection Act to shut down the operation of the province’s four remaining coal-fired plants by the end of 2014. The proposed regulation, which has been posted for a 30-day public review on the Ministry of Environment’s registry system, would be binding on future provincial governments unless the act was amended.”

SaskPower, a Saskatchewan owned utility company is looking into carbon-capture and storage technology for its coal-fired power plant. If the plan goes through, it will be on of the world’s first “commercial-scale, coal-fired power plants that would produce virtually no greenhouse gas emissions.”

“Thousands of Ontario residents would get sick, and many would die, if the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency goes ahead with relaxed new emission rules for coal-fuelled generating stations, the province complained yesterday.”

Ontario is aiming to shut down all coal-fired power plants by the year 2014. Some agree, while others urge for other measures.

“Growing dependence on cheap coal to power rapid economic growth in the Asia-Pacific could undermine efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions that is blamed for harmful changes in the world’s climate, experts said on Tuesday.”

“Ontario can’t afford to close the Nanticoke coal plant until power is found elsewhere, but $1.3 billion to add scrubbers to its smokestacks should help people breathe easier, Progressive Conservative Leader John said yesterday.”

A study by 15 scientists from 13 countries reveals that worldwide coal-burning power plants pose “the single greatest challenge” in combating climate change.

Germany’s 40% reduction target for CO2 emissions will not be met if it continues to build coal-burning power plants, says an environmental group.