“Clean coal is an essential element of a responsible fuel mix for long term sustainable economic growth..”
Mercury emissions
Mercury remediation is an important global issue. In fact, mercury has been identified as
one of the most critical environmental concerns facing Powder River Basin coal.
Rio Tinto Energy America recognizes that coal-fired power plants are the largest producers of man-made or anthropogenic mercury in the United States.
However, only 3 percent of the mercury in the atmosphere comes from US based power plants. Other sources are from natural events, such as forest fires, and from foreign and other sources. Even though
Rio Tinto Energy America
contributes a small fraction of the mercury emitted in the US, we remain dedicated to
improving the quality of our environment.
Rio Tinto Energy America’s number one concern is finding the most effective mercury remediation for Powder River Basin coal in coal-fired power plants. We support legislation and regulation at the national level that would substantially reduce mercury from current levels while giving the industry time to develop the needed technology.
