Calgary-based TransAlta Corp., a mainstay of investor-owned power generation, on Wednesday ended 65 years of burning coal in its Canadian thermal plants by completing a fuel switch to natural gas for its Alberta network.

alberta power plant

The company announced its 463 MW Keephills Unit 3, west of Edmonton near Wabamun, finished the historic change. The firm is down to one U.S. coal-fired generator – in Centralia, WA – and its days are numbered as the company works to reduce carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions.

“Our coal transition is among the most meaningful carbon emissions reduction achievements in Canadian history,” said President John Kousinioris.

“Converting to natural gas from coal maintains the current generation capacity of Keephills 3 and reduces our CO2 emissions by almost...