Less than half of Alberta’s electricity came from coal power in 2018, contributing to a dramatic reduction in greenhouse gas emissions, says the province. It’s the equivalent of taking 1.5 million cars off the road, with emissions dropping by seven megatonnes, or 16 per cent, in the sector compared to 2017.

Postmedia requested data from the province about its flagship climate leadership plan, including how emissions have changed since it was introduced in 2015.

At the time, the province didn’t set out emission targets. A federal government report estimated that Alberta was tracking towards producing 313 megatonnes of greenhouse gas emissions annually by 2030.

Now that number is closer to 263 megatonnes, said the province, marking a projected 50-megatonne reduction, equivalent to 11 million fewer cars on the road.