Pioneer to go Mercury Free!

The St. Gabriel, Louisiana facility is the lone chlorine plant in the Gulf that continues to use outdated technology which emits massive amounts of mercury. Twelve miles outside of Louisiana's largest city, Baton Rouge, Pioneer finally decided to follow the chlorine industry trend of switch to the energy-saving, mercury-free, membrane cell technology. In a move which will reduce Louisiana's mercury emissions by about 27%, Pioneer announced recently that they will switch their St. Gabriel chlorine plant to the industry standard, mercury-free process by 2008.

This decision comes after a long-fought campaign by GRN and led by GRN-member groups LEAN, Louisiana Audubon Council, Oceana and other conservation groups urging the switch, and after a recent GRN action alert which generated close to 2,000 e-mails to Pioneer.

Thanks to everyone who clicked for a mercury-free Gulf.