Alberta is set to meet its goal to eliminate coal-fired electricity production years earlier than its 2030 target, thanks to recently announced natural gas conversion projects.

TransAlta chief executive Dawn Farrell says the closing will come four years ahead of its original off-coal schedule for the mine near Edmonton.

The money will fund four planning, training and research programs in Alberta and five in Saskatchewan.

The report also says in order to avoid "dangerous climate change," G20 governments "must commit to rapidly ending their support for coal."

Estevan, Sask., is looking at ways to diversify its economy ahead of a wind down in coal mining and power production over the next five years.

Saskatchewan's environment minister hoped to sign off on a federal deal outlining the future of coal power in March, but that likely will be pushed back to spring.

About 122 TransAlta employees could be laid off by the end of February as the company continues its transition to natural gas, according to the union.

The U.S. recorded its second-highest number of coal-fired power plant shutdowns in 2018, despite President Donald Trump's efforts to prop up the industry.

The provincial and federal governments have come to terms on an equivalency agreement that will see Saskatchewan mostly move away from coal by 2030.

Refined coal shows few signs of reducing harmful emissions as U.S. lawmakers intended, a Reuters analysis of EPA data and regulatory documents shows.