As a result of increased pressure to reduce mercury emissions from fossil fuel-fired electric power generation facilities and the absence of commercially demonstrated mercury reduction technologies for mercury, considerable research and development activity in this area has been underway and moving rapidly. The electricity sector decided to formally track and assess progress on mercury research and development related to monitoring and control technology. The information gathered continues to provide a foundation for informed decision-making in the Canadian context.

CEA co-ordinated the compilation and reporting on a quarterly basis, of Canadian and international mercury related research and development activities and findings that allowed electricity, government and NGO stakeholders in the Canadian Council of Ministers of the Environment Canada Wide Standard for Mercury process to keep up to date with key developments in mercury control and monitoring technologies. CEA contracted the University of North Dakota Energy and Environmental Research Center (UND EERC) to conduct this work.