Not Green: 4,000 pounds of mercury, one state!

Report: NC power plants No. 8 for mercury pollution

Feb. 3, 2011 - North Carolina's power plants emitted more than 4,000 pounds of mercury in 2009, the eighth highest in the nation, according to a new report by Environment North Carolina.

Progress Energy's power plants ranked it first among North Carolina plants for the amount of mercury emitted.

Progress Energy's Skyland plant released 973 pounds of mercury in 2009, the 27th highest in the nation, according to the report.

Coal-fired power plants are the largest source of mercury pollution in the U.S., according to the environmental advocacy group.

Environment North Carolina is releasing the report ahead of the federal government's proposal for limiting mercury emissions. {continued}