TORONTO - Jul 25 - Canadian Press

Premier Dalton McGuinty says electricity rates may rise when the province closes its coal plants, but that's the cost of cleaner air.

A CIBC report is predicting electricity costs could rise up to 70 per cent when Ontario starts shutting down its coal-fired plants.

McGuinty says he doesn't know what will happen with electricity prices but says the cost of doing nothing is too great.

He says closing down the plants is essential to clean up Ontario's air and reduce its greenhouse gas emissions.

McGuinty says the province is also making it easier for people to be more energy efficient in order to keep their bills down.

Conservative critic John Yakabuski says the province should be putting scrubbers on the coal plants which would help clean up the air and keep electricity flowing

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