Ontario's coal-fired generating plants won't be getting scrubbers to cut the smog-producing pollution they spew because they're costly and won't reduce climate change, says Energy Minister Dwight Duncan.

Duncan announced Tuesday that the government has rejected the idea of installing the technology after the Ontario Power Authority estimated it would cost $1.6 billion.

'It doesn't get at what affects climate change.'— Energy Minister Dwight Duncan

Duncan said that is too expensive considering that Ontario plans to close its four coal-fired generating plants by 2014. He also noted that the scrubbers don't remove carbon dioxide, a greenhouse gas blamed for climate change, which is now a big concern.

"It doesn't get at what affects climate change, it doesn't deal with global warming," he said, "and the emissions reduction, [nitrogen oxide] and[sulphur dioxide], is really minor."

According to the Ontario Power Authority, scrubbers would reduce pollution from the province's biggest coal plant by 60 to 70 per cent. However, it is estimated that 50 per cent of air pollution in Ontario comes from the U.S.

Decision will cost lives: Conservatives

Conservative energy critic John Yakabuski argued that not installing the scrubbers will cost lives.

Yakabuski quoted figures cited by Dalton McGuinty when he was Opposition leader that estimated smog costs Ontario's health-care system $10.8 billion annually and kills more than 1,800 people each year.

The Conservatives argue that the cost of the scrubbers would be outweighed by savings to the health-care system.

The Liberals originally cited pollution concerns as the reason they want to shut down the coal-fired plants.